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Friday, 18 September 2009

Most Americans Favor Ban on Texting while Driving

Considering how many people rely on their cell phones in everyday life, the results of a survey that asked Americans if they would support ban on texting while driving might be surprising. It turned out that the overwhelming majority would support legislation on restricting cell phone usage while in vehicle.

Conducted in August with 1,008 American adults, the survey from Nationwide Insurance reveals that 80 percent of the respondents are in favor of a bill that forbids drivers to send text messages while driving. Meanwhile, two-third (67%) of them said they would support a ban on voice calls, and more than half (57%) favor a law against all cell phone use, including making calls with handsfree devices.

Unexpectedly, older people are not the only supportive age group of the legislation. Three fourths of members of Generations X (aged 33 to 44) and Generation Y (aged 21-32), who are more likely to use the text messaging and emailing features, also show strong support for the restrictions.

The results indicate that more and more people have come to realize how dangerous the practice could be. Not only is there an increasing number of road accidents associated with texting, many studies and research also found that the practice could be lethal. Back in 2008, Nationwide's survey revealed that 45 percent of respondents had been hit or nearly hit by another driver using a cell phone. In a study released last month by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, it was found that people who texted while driving increased the crash risk by 23 times.

In the light of the high risk of texting while driving, 18 states and the District of Columbia have passed rules against texting for all drivers, and more states are considering following in the footsteps. In the recent months, the debate about banning the activity across all US states has also intensified. If a nationwide legislation is introduced, American drivers who want to stay connected with others while driving will have to make sure they have a handsfree device.

When it comes to handsfree communication, there is a wide range of devices for consumers to choose from, such as handsfrees, Bluetooth headsets, Bluetooth car speakerphones and car kits. Bluetooth headsets such as Jabra BT4051, Plantronics Explorer 220 and LG HBM-760 could be the best choices, as they come equipped with voice activated dialing function for you to place a call simply by speaking the caller’s name. With these handsfree devices, road accidents related to driving distraction are more likely to reduce.

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