National board calls for mobile device ban in cars | News

By Cyreia Sandlin

On Dec. 13, the National Transportation Safety Board announced their recommendations that states outlaw all mobile devices for people while driving.

"This is becoming the new DUI. It's becoming an epidemic," says Robert Sumwalt, of NTSB.

It's an epidemic many Americans are guilty of, using a mobile device while driving.

The NTSB says too many lives have been lost for this to continue.

"In regarding distractions due to electronic devices, if we don't act now, how many lives will we lose in the next 30 years? I don't think we can afford to wait an entire generation to change this," Sumwalt said.

Garden City Police Chief David Lyons says he fully supports this.

The recommendation comes after the NTSB investigated a deadly Missouri accident that left two people dead, and 38 injured. Lyons remembers hearing the details, and said it's just one of many deadly accidents.

But despite his support for the proposal, he believes it could be easier said than done.

"The downside of that is from our standpoint, from law enforcement standpoint, is it's going to be a nightmare to enforce."

For now, the NTSB can only make recommendations. An actual ban would have to be approved by individual states, or nationally by Congress.

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