In 2003, researchers at the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
proposed a long-term study of 10,000 drivers to assess the safety risk posed by cellphone use behind the wheel. They sought the study based on evidence that such multitasking was a serious and growing threat on America’s roadways.According to the article, not only did the agency fail to carry out the proposed study, it also refused to disseminate the evidence that government scientists had compiled suggesting the danger.
Comment: This is outrageous1 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is specifically chartered to develop and disseminate information that will enhance highway safety. I am not sure which is worse -- failing to do a study that no other agency could or would do that would appear likely to provide evidence to allow policies to enhance safety, or failing to disseminate the evidence that had been compiled and assessed by the Agency's scientists.
I do not believe that the Congress is so dominated by industrial interests that it would not as a whole support highway safety over the interests of the cell phone industry (which in any case would be little threatened by regulations on cell phone use while driving). The Bush administration has a reputation of failing to regulate in areas where industrial constituents of the Republican party oppose regulation.
Now Civil Society will disseminate the available information. Perhaps the Obama administration will reevaluate the need for such a study in light of the original proposal and any information that has subsequently come to light, and will take the appropriate steps. JAD
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