Cell Phones

National Parks

Cell Towers: Coming to the National Parks

With the Trump administration's support, private industry is busy building new broadband infrastructure on public lands. The effect is already obvious in many national parks.

March 17, 2020 - High Country News

Text and Drive

Distracted Driving—Still a Problem and a Threat to Public Safety

Even with laws limiting or prohibiting the use of devices while driving, motorists continue to make calls and text while driving.

December 20, 2019 - Bloomberg

Downtown Denver

Colorado Campaign Urges Drivers to Shut Off Their Phones

In 2018, distracted driving was a factor in over 15,000 crashes in Colorado. A new statewide campaign wants drivers to focus on the road rather than their phones.

April 8, 2019 - The Denver Post

Seeing Eye People

Distracted Walking: Finally, Some Hard Data

It's serious, and the data is surprising. You need not be a pedestrian to experience injury while walking using your cell phone: half of all injuries occurred in the home. Two thirds of all walking-using-cell phone injuries were females.

October 4, 2015 - The Washington Post

Atlanta's Transit System to Add Cell, WiFi Access

"Cool, cool, cool, cool, in every way," is Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority CEO Keith Parker's assessment of a proposed deal to install cell phone and WiFi access in transit stations and tunnels.

September 11, 2015 - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Banning Cell Phone Use by Drivers Nationwide

The National Transportation Safety Board's recommendation is voluntary - it is up to the states to enact them into law. The CA state senator responsible for the ban on talking on hand-held cell phones and texting called it a 'political nonstarter'.

December 14, 2011 - The New York Times - Business Day - Technology

No Cell Phones in Cars, Says LaHood

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood's passion is eliminating the threat of distracted driving from cellphones and texting. Now he's taking it a step further and saying the in the future cellphone scramblers might be mandatory in cars.

November 22, 2010 - Switched

'Distracted Driving' Summit Called By LaHood

In a sign of how serious the administration is taking traffic safety, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood called for a special meeting to deal with 'distracted driving', primarily the technological type - cell phones, both hand-held and hands-free, and texting.

August 5, 2009 - The New York Times - Politics

Feds Take Action On Driving While Texting

Banning "DWT" - driving while texting, could soon become the next 'seat belt requirement' for states to avoid forfeiture of some of their federal highway funds if a Senate bill is to become law.

July 30, 2009 - The New York Times - Technology

Study Showing Danger of Cellphone Driving Buried

The former head of the NHTSA has admitted that he was encouraged to bury the results of a study showing the mounting risk of cellphone use by drivers. The study is being released today under a Freedom of Information Act request.

July 21, 2009 - The New York Times

Friday Funny: Traffic Engineers Accommodate Cell Phone Users

In a new twist of "managed lanes", this comic looks at ways to accommodate cell phone users so as not to affect those not using their cells.

January 23, 2009 - Go Comics

Philadelphia Trains to Try Out Quiet Cars

Starting Monday, some SEPTA trains will launch a pilot program that discourages too-loud talking, a problem now prevalent during rush-hour.

January 8, 2009 - Philadelphia Inquirer

City Silences Cell Phones On Transit

Responding to the growing backslash against cell phone chatter, the city of Graz, Austria has banned cell phone use on its public transit system.

April 20, 2008 - Associated Press

Friday Funny: Addressing the Dangers of Texting While Walking

More and more people are injuring themselves by walking into poles while looking down at their cell phones. This video from ITN News looks at an effort in England to make the streets safer for walking texters.

March 14, 2008 - ITN News via Engadget

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