SpectrumTalk

Cellular Industry on
Driving and Safety

This post has several excerpts from cellular industry websites. They were all downloaded July 31. If they are hard to read, click on them for a larger version. The top post from the CTIA site says

Safe Driving

CTIA Position

When it comes to using your wireless device behind the wheel, CTIA-The Wireless Association® and the wireless industry believe that safety should always be every driver’s top priority.

Wireless devices are one of the best safety tools drivers can have on the road. Everyday more than 290,000 calls are made from wireless devices to 911 or other emergency services. That’s about 200 calls every minute. More Americans are using their wireless device to report emergencies, prevent crimes and to save lives. While mobile phones can be important safety tools, there’s an appropriate time and an inappropriate time to use them.

On July 29, CTIA issued the following statement:

CTIA–The Wireless Association® Statement on Texting While Driving

July 29, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC – CTIA - The Wireless Association® President and CEO Steve Largent issued the following statement on texting while driving:

“CTIA and our member companies continue to believe text messaging while driving is incompatible with safe driving.

“We support state legislative remedies to solve this issue. But simply passing a law will not change behavior. We also need to educate new and experienced drivers on the dangers of taking their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel.

“CTIA and our members have been working to educate all drivers on the dangers of distracted driving for years now and we hope that people continue to learn more.”

For more information on texting while driving, please visit: www.ctia.org/consumer_info/safety/index.cfm/AID/10369

(Amusingly, as of this writing the indicated link "for more information" just points to a list of all CTIA press releases including this one.) So CTIA is now in favor of laws banning texting while driving. Where are they on laws about cell phone use while driving? Still "neutral"?


Here is an excerpt from the "Safe Driving Brochure" on the CTIA website. It advises not to "take notes or look up numbers while driving". It also advises you to place calls "before pulling into traffic" - does that mean while you are moving?












For reference on major industry players, here is what T-Mobile's website says about driving and cell phone use. Paralleling CTIA it says, "Dial sensibly, place calls when not moving or before pulling into traffic."












Verizon Wireless is more proactive. They announce their support of antitexting legislation. They also state,

"Verizon Wireless broke from the rest of its competitors in the U.S. wireless industry by supporting state-wide hands-free driving laws as early as 2000. Since then, Verizon Wireless has been the only wireless company supporting bans on texting and e-mailing while driving."

So congratulations to VZW for its responsible position on safety.