National Security Council calls for nationwide bans on cell phone use while driving

The National Security Council sent out a message on Monday that calls for all 50 States to implement bans on citizens using cell phones while driving. The group referred to a study done by the Harvard Center of Risk Analysis, which revealed that 6% of all automobile crashes in the U.S. are caused by cell phones.

Currently, 18 states, as well as the District of Columbia, have enacted bans on cell phone use while driving to some degree. Every state, however, allows the use of a handsfree device while driving, such as a Bluetooth headset. The National Security Council says that any cell phone use - including handsfree devices - is dangerous, and should be banned. [via PhoneScoop]

Harvard's Center of Risk Analysis had previously said in 2000 that it believed the benefits of phone use while driving might outweigh the risks.