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Calls are growing for cell phone laws in cars
Besides state laws, companies are beginning to ask their employees to stop phoning and driving, and plaintiffs are collecting multimillion dollar awards for wrongful death caused by cell phone-wielding drivers, reports the Seattle Post Intelligencer. "Other lawmakers, however, fear restricting cell phones in cars may hamper the development of new technological devices for cars that may be beneficial. Called telematics, such devices include new generations of embedded, voice-activated phones, in-dash navigational systems and more. Company PoliciesIn the name of safety -- the leading cause of worker death last year was auto accidents -- companies are writing policies about cell phones and driving. General Motors, with more than 200,000 employees, asks workers to use hands-free headsets and avoid phoning in heavy traffic. Other companies have banned their workers from talking on cell phones in moving cars. Oil giant ExxonMobil's new policy restricts its 88,000 employees from phoning and driving. LawsuitsWhen a Smith Barney investment broker killed a motorcyclist while making a business call in his own car, on his personal phone, on a weekend, the company paid $500,000 to settle the suit out of court. Last month in Virginia, a law firm was sued for $30 million because a former attorney was allegedly making a work call on her cell phone when she swerved off the road and killed a 15-year-old girl in 2000. Initially, she said she thought she hit a deer and kept driving. Safety CampaignsThe federal government hasn't created a safety campaign or PSAs about phoning while driving. Neither has Washington state. But the wireless industry, emphasizing education, not legislation, says it's been doing a lot to remind its customers to phone and drive safely." |
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