Try Safety First Says Simple Bans are Not Even Close to the Right Answer to Stop Cell Phone Distracted Driving

    MARIETTA, GA, December 15, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended a ban on "the non-emergency use of portable electronic devices (other than those designed to support the driving task) for all drivers" in all 50 states due to their potential to distract motorists and cause accidents. Try Safety First CEO John Fischer says bans (although much better than nothing) are not even close to the best answer. Technology is the best answer, but not just any technology says Fischer.

According to Fischer, addictions and temptations to the cell phone are so great, bans have little if any effect. Recent studies support Fischer's claim. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of driver's texting behind the wheel last year increased by 50%. And this is in spite of more than 30 states having enacted bans. This should be no surprise says Fischer.

Clinical studies have shown use of the cell phone creates a dopamine squirt thereby causing a Pavlovian Impulse giving the user instant gratification and the desire to automatically reach for the device whenever and wherever it rings, buzzes or lights up. Neuro-imaging studies have shown texting individuals have the same area of the brain light up as an addict using heroin. And still other studies are claiming the phone elicits an OCD type behavior. Couple this with the fact that kids are now getting phones on average at age ten. By time they learn how to drive, these young adults are well entrenched into the unstoppable behavior. What's worse is the kids are not the worst offenders. Soccer moms and executives are. There's a reason why the Blackberry is often referred to as the Crackberry?

Driving and cell phone use is nothing less than an accident waiting to happen. According to the World Health Organization, cell phone distracted driving is costing the top ten developed nations between one and three percent of GDP. On the high end that means we are flushing almost a half a trillion dollars per year down the drain. Even on the very low end of 150 billion dollars per year, we should be doing everything possible to eliminate this problem. Hello... anybody on the Supercommittee reading this? But the problem doesn't stop here.

Prison officials are now claiming the cell phone to be the number one item of smuggled contraband. Jailed criminals and terrorists enjoy secret communication almost whenever they want. Literally hundreds of thousands of illegal activities are orchestrated every single day on contraband cell phones inside prison walls. In a recent report to Congress, the CTIA disclosed more than 216,320 illegal text/cellular phone call attempts were made in less than one month from inside one single prison in Mississippi. Can this societal cost even be calculated?

Schools are also experiencing troubled times because of the cell phone. Cyber bullying, cheating and classroom disruption has become a daily disturbance in many institutions. Because of this, more than 90% of districts have instituted strict disciplinary policies. Many educators freely admit the policies are failing badly. A recent two week email campaign conducted by Try Safety First asking educators to sign a petition to Congress to mandate TSF technology for the classroom generated more than 4,000 letters and emails to Congress. TSF technology in the classroom actually provides each room an on/off switch so the instructor can choose to use the phone as a teaching tool if desired.

Other cell phone problem areas often in need of on/off switch technology include Airplanes, Hospitals, Churches, Theatres, High Security Areas and our very own homes. So with all these problem areas in need of a solution, what's the BEST answer? "Protocol Technology," says Fischer. That is if we want to put an end to these problems swiftly and decisively."

Because there are more than 650 different makes and models of cell phones combined with open, closed and partially closed configurations, a new industry standard must be adopted. A standard complete with universal distraction prevention and safety protocols. The protocols will be embedded into the firmware of all handsets manufactured. As such, all phones will understand exactly how to behave when in a safety related or distraction prevention environment. 911 and two additional emergency numbers always remain active. In essence, an optional safety valve is created inside each phone. Each state will decide which protocols and which environments and to activate.

According to Fischer, protocol standardization is the only real way to effectively eliminate ALL cell phone problems to provide parents, teachers, wardens, judges, pilots, public transportation officials, and business owners an optional tool to easily eliminate their respective wireless problems. And the cost? Just pennies says Fischer.

When asked, isn't this just a little too much government intervention in our lives? Fischer responded, I would like to state for the record in nearly all circumstances I am clearly on the side of smaller government and personal responsibility. Unfortunately, there are times in life when human behavior finds a way to cast a shadow of darkness so severe that we must act to prevent collateral damage. This is one of those times.

Use of a cell phone is not a right, but a privilege and we must respect it for everything that it is and realize we are not somehow magically immune to its dangers. The cell phone is much greater than a simple toy capable of doing some really cool things. I believe the cell phone may be one of the greatest inventions ever, but please understand it was never envisioned to be smuggled contraband, facilitate massive cheating and disruption among students, cause an accident every 47 seconds or be a terrorist bomb trigger. The reality is the cell phone has quickly become the key ingredient in many disastrous recipes and we must not let good judgment be overtaken by our addiction for these cool gadgets. The cost and destruction caused be these problems can no longer be ignored.

With many countries on the brink of financial disaster, Fischer is expecting a major push in demand for their patent pending protocol technology. Brazil has already moved in this direction. On Oct. 20th, 2011, Brazilian Congressman Newton Cardoza championed bill PL 2482-2011 in an effort to mandate Try Safety First protocol technology. On Nov. 5th, the bill became registered in the Brazilian Congress, moved into the commissions and was given PRIORITY status.

For more information on Try Safety First Protocol Technology or to join Try Safety First in their quest to create a global standard, CEO Fischer can be reached at [email protected].

Website: http://trysafetyfirst.com

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