Washington – New drivers have enough things to worry about without adding cellphones and other wireless devices to the mix, federal safety regulators say. They want all states to make it illegal for teenagers and other novice drivers to jabber on phones. Colorado already has such a law.
The National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday voted to add to its annual list of “Most Wanted Safety Recommendations to States” a ban on novice drivers using any wireless communication devices.
“Learning how to drive while distracted is definitely a recipe for disaster,” said the safety board’s acting chairman, Mark Rosenker.
The NTSB has the power only to make recommendations, but its staff and board members personally lobby – often with success – for changes the board considers most important.
“It does make a difference,” said Judie Stone, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, which supports the ban.
Already, 11 states and the District of Columbia restrict cellphone use among novice drivers, and some ban hand-held cellphones for all drivers.
