The National Safety Council wants California legislators to repeal a law that will allow drivers to text with hands-free devices, starting on Jan. 1 of 2013, the non-profit organization announced this week.
In 2009, the California legislature passed a law banning texting while driving. However, an amendment passed through the Assembly and Senate that allows drivers to send and receive text messages as long as they are able to do so hands free. This year, AB 1563 authored by Jeff Miller (R-Corona) was first read on Jan. 24 and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on July 13.
According to a Senate analysis, Miller’s intent of the legislation was to allow drivers to “use the most modern communications systems and devices while maintaining the safety of of hands-free operations by simply allowing them use the latest voice activated, hands free technology.” Drivers average about 64 minutes per day commuting to and from work.
"Safe driving requires a driver’s full attention – hands on the wheel, eyes on the road and mind on the task of driving," said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council in a statement. "There is no research or evidence that indicates voice-activated technologies eliminate or even reduce the distraction to the drivers’ mind. Unless such research becomes available, texting laws, such as California’s, should not be weakened by legalizing the use of voice-to-text technologies."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a section on their website devoted to research reports, presentations and agency plans regarding distracted driving. Distraction can take one of three forms: visual (taking your eyes off the road), cognitive (your mind is focusing on a task other than driving), or manual (taking your hands off the wheel).
A study sponsored by the NHTSA in August 2011 showed via a computer driving simulator that text messaging distracted drivers the most, followed by dialing a telephone number and tuning the radio. However, there is not much research concerning whether or by how much hands-free texting impairs driving.
The matter is difficult to study in the real world, due to the many variables that can increase or decrease the likelihood of a traffic accident, according the Senate analysis.
