NSC: 8 in 10 Americans Believe Cell Phones are Addictive
The organization is launching a national campaign called #CallsKill.
A public opinion poll from the National Safety Council found more than eight in 10 Americans believe cell phones are addictive, underscoring the need to help drivers kick their cell phone use habit. The organization is launching a national campaign, Calls Kill, to illustrate that hands-free cell phones are not risk free.
The campaign launch coincides with Distracted Driving Awareness Month, observed each April.
"For far too long, we have prioritized convenience over safety," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "When we get behind the wheel, we have an obligation to keep one another safe. Drivers who justify cell phone use with the hands-free myth are disregarding that obligation. It's time to reconcile the cost of being constantly connected with the consequences of risky behavior behind the wheel."
Calls Kill targets hands-free use because eight in 10 drivers mistakenly believe hands-free devices are safer. Drivers who are talking on cell phones – even hands free – are cognitively distracted by the conversation and do not adequately focus on the important task of driving.