Originally Posted by m5james (Post 785596)

I've not once quoted an actual study on here, nor am I going to start now. You said I can't cite BT manufacturers, so can I cite our own, the holy grail of safety, BMW itself (and countless other automobile manufacturers)? BMW sells it as a safety feature, do they not?

Originally Posted by Thunder22 (Post 785603)

They did that same study and had the same results in 1927 when Ford put a Philco radio in a Model T.

Originally Posted by Quicksilver (Post 785500)

Problem is everybody thinks they have a valid reason for being on the phone while driving bluetooth or not.
What they need is a chance to drive behind themselves for a change.
Perhaps then they would have an epiphany realizing what a hazard they really are and
the rest of humanity could stop yelling, "GET OFF THE PHONE YOU IDIOT"

Originally Posted by Fleet Management News

Study: Top safety fleets enforce total ban on cell phones

Nov 16, 2010 11:51 AM

A new study by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) of company vehicle fleet crash rates reveals that “the top safety performers are companies with policies enacting a total ban on cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) and that establish strong consequences—including termination—for employees who violate such policies.”

NETS’ latest Strength in Numbers fleet benchmarking study found the “significant commonalities among the leading performers” were not only that they were more likely to have a total ban on mobile phone use, but 6 of the 8 leading companies were also more likely to terminate a driver for violating the company’s mobile device policy. By comparison, all thirteen companies that fell in the bottom of the rankings had some degree of a mobile device policy-- but none had the option to terminate a driver for violating the policy.

“This is the first evidence we’ve seen that shows the combination of a strong mobile device policy and strict consequences can result in lower crash rates,” said Bill Windsor, NETS Board Chairman. “The benchmark study shows the potential for well-written state laws combined with strong enforcement to eventually reduce crash rates in the general population.”
The year-long benchmarking study examined fleets from 45 leading companies in the pharmaceutical, oil and gas, food and beverage, telecommunications, transportation, package delivery and insurance industries. The companies, including 27 in the Fortune 500, operate a combined fleet of just over 400,000 vehicles, which logged more than 8 billion miles in 2009. The study participants’ crash rate per million miles (CPMM) ranged from less than one to nearly 12.

Originally Posted by JCL (Post 785613)

Sure they do. But they don't guarantee your safety with it. They are simply responding to market pressures, and people want to talk on cell phones and drive, as evidenced both by the number of posts on the subject, and a quick scan of the cars I saw driving today (hands free law notwithstanding).

If BMW wanted to make vehicles that could only be used in a safe manner, they probably wouldn't sell cars that can do 250 km/hr in a school zone. Safe driving is all about the driver, not the car.

Originally Posted by Quicksilver (Post 785614)

No matter how much research and proof that will be given. People will always think they are the 2.5%. (The exception) The fact is the 200 people in the initial post I linked to is not the first study done regarding this issue. These studies and the results found have been done for years and everyone who has an ounce of sense knows the facts.

Why don't people just admit they know this is an issue? The answer is simple. It's a case of mis-directed pride and that's ok until you finally kill someone. Then and only then will we hear the echo of their voice added to the countless others who say "I didn't think it could happen to me". Guess what; by that time it's to late.

applied cognition lab | the university of utah
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/te...1&pagewanted=1
applied cognition lab | the university of utah

Originally Posted by JCL (Post 785632)

Full story: Study: Top safety fleets enforce total ban on cell phones

My employer banned all mobile device use in vehicles several years ago, unless the vehicle was parked. That went from service trucks to the president, and included the full mobile sales force. It didn't cover driving to and from work in personal vehicles, but it did if you received a monthly car allowance (and practically all managers did). Many of us took the opportunity to eliminate all vehicle cell phone usage.

Stock price did fine. $6b company. The ban applied in Canada, representing about half the global revenues. Given that many customers were mining and oilfield customers with very strong safety programs, the new policy was well-received by customers. Promoting the policy publicly demonstrated a commitment to safety.

It is absolutely a mind shift, requiring adaptation. However, the world didn't end.