Companies Starting to Ban Cellphones to Reduce Deadly Car Accidents

As personal injury lawyers helping victims of deadly car accidents in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and the Palm Beaches we applaud the efforts of some large businesses to ban cellphone use by their on-the-road workers. These companies action are In response to recent NTSB guidelines which recommended a ban on cellphone usage while driving.

Unfortunately, according to a survey by the National Safety Council, only 10% of Fortune 500 companies have such rules limiting cellphone use. The Safety Council suggested that there be a complete ban for all cellphone use while driving. The suggestion is based upon numerous studies which found that cellphones, even those used hands free, are not safe to use while driving.

While many companies are concerned that productivity will decrease, data collected by the National Safety Council revealed that such cellphone limits did not have such an affect . Considering the deadly car accidents caused by employees while talking on a cellphone, any reduction in cellphone usage will not only save lives, but will certainly result in an equivalent reduction in significant personal injury damage awards against such companies.

Not surprisingly, organizations such as the Consumer Electronics Association disagree that stopping cellphone use while driving will result in a decrease in accidents. We can only hope that the legislature will take the necessary action to cause these trade organizations to realize that even one life saved makes such a limit on distracted driving worthwhile.