recently a story has appeared on the news that has really caught my attention.. seeing how i just spent good money on a bluetooth

The National Safety Council is trying to ban all cell phone use while driving.. including hands free.

CNN reports

“Studies show that driving while talking on a cell phone is extremely dangerous and puts drivers at a four times greater risk of a crash,” said Janet Froetscher, the council’s president and CEO, in a news release, referring to a 1997 New England Journal of Medicine examination of hospital records.

i think if you have a hands free on (and you dont play with your phone while driving) its the same as having a passenger in the car with you. or having the radio on.. what are they going to ban the radio.. ppl take time to look to press for a cd change..

i am with the whole banning cell phones you have to hold.. cuz i agree with that one. you are more focused on the phone.. and if you drop the thing you go to grab it without thinking.. and yeah.. totally agreement.. but not blue tooths..

apparently im not the only one who thinks that way

The cell-phone industry opposes any such ban.

CTIA-The Wireless Association, formerly known as Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, advocates education over legislation in reducing road accidents.

“Laws aimed just at wireless use create a false sense of security with regard to the issue of distracted driving,” the agency said in a posting on its Web site.

“We believe there can be safe, sensible, responsible use for a brief period of time,” said John Walls, CTIA’s vice president of public affairs, in a telephone interview.

“Just as there is an appropriate time, there is an inappropriate time” to use a cell phone in the car, he said, citing heavy traffic, bad weather and stressful conversations as examples.

CTIA said cell phones are being unfairly singled out from a raft of other potential distractions that could affect safety.

“Numerous studies cite reaching for moving objects, drowsiness, pushing audio buttons, eating, personal grooming, other passengers and reading as some of the many other potential driving distractions,” the organization said. “Wireless use has often been listed behind many of these activities in terms of how distracting of a behavior it might be while driving.”

NSC spokesman Ulczycki agreed that other distractions in the car can also prove dangerous, but said, “None of them are as serious as talking on a cell phone.”

In addition, he noted, cell phones are nearly ubiquitous, with 90 percent of the nation’s 300 million residents having a cell-phone account, according to CTIA.

A Nationwide Insurance public opinion poll reported that 81 percent of the U.S. drivers say they use cell phones at the wheel.

what are your thoughts on it.. i mean.. if cops can drive around (way over the speed limit mind you) typing on aim on their computers in their cars.. why can i have a hands free?