The NHTSA Suppressed Research on the Dangers of Cell Phones
July 22, 2009 6:58 AM | Interesting | Comments (0)
The New York Times reported yesterday that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) seven years ago suppressed research on the dangers of cell phone use while driving. The NHTSA research tracked cell phone use in 2002 and found that 955 people were killed during 240,000 roadway accidents while talking or texting on a cell phone. |  |
The NHTSA withheld a draft letter to then Secretary of Transportation, Norm Mineta, telling him of their findings that driving "requires full attention and focus" and that cell phone use behind the wheel" has contributed to an increasing number of crashes, injuries and fatalities."
The letter stated that hands-free only partly resolve the problem because the main accident risk is caused by the cell phone conversation itself, when a driver's focus is off the road.
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