While many of us were thinking of pleasant things during the Christmas season like shopping and holiday cheer, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were engaged in more serious issues. Their recent research has shown that technological devices of all kinds have been distracting Americans and have become a hazard on the road. So with a recent national announcement, the Vice President of the organization urged that all technological devices be banned when driving.

While some organizations are endorsing the NTSB's suggestion, there are others who are not happy with their latest announcement. For example, the US Transportation Secretary did not endorse the NTSB's suggestion; they had come out with an announcement earlier in the week that cell phones should be banned, but have alleged that the call to ban all technological devises is drastic. A Chevrolet spokesman said that he believed the announcement from the NTSB to be very cautious; he also believed that many states would not push for a total ban currently. Chevrolet and other companies have new technology for the use of hands-free devices as built in amenities in their car; if the NTSB's suggestion is headed by certain state legislatures, they would need to consider making changes to their current vehicle models.

Out of the 6000 drivers who are polled, over 40 percent of them believe that hands-free devices were safe; contrary to public belief, NTSB is reporting that hands-free devices are not any less distracting than cell phones since the problem is not the device that is being used but rather the use of brain functions. When in a driving simulator, Americans showed a 37 percent decrease in response reactions while driving and simultaneously using technological devices; the NTSB reported that this meant that they're using less of their brain where cognitive functions like driving are needed for proficiency on the road.

The director of the Carnegie Melon University Center for brain imaging agrees with the recent findings, and said that his results also endorsed the NTSB's announcements. The director reported that each task that was multitasked was performed with a less cognitive brain function and had a decrease in proficiency rates; this is also true regardless of the technological device. The lessened cognitive function is held where language is understood is rendered less efficient; the research has found that even if the driver attempts to ignore the words, their driving efficiency would still be less effective. The NTSB does not include GPS devices in their ban of all technological devices on the road, but urges that cell phones only be used in event of an emergency.

In Connecticut, minors are not allowed to use hands-free devices and in Illinois those who are 19 and under are not allowed to use them as well. With varying rules on texting, cell phone bans, and restrictions per each age, it is important to know what guidelines your state adheres to. There are also primary and secondary laws to take into account because if a law is a primary law, there are different protocols to that will happen should you break the law. A primary law means that a police officer may pull you over for using a cell phone or if a minor in Connecticut a hands-free device when spotting the infraction on the road. A secondary law means that if a minor in Connecticut was using a hands-free device and was spotted by an officer, he would have to find another reason to first pull over the minor: such as speeding. Then, once pulled over, the enforcement officer could cite the minor for using a hands-free device.

If the NTSB's suggestion is heeded by state lawmakers, minors would not have to be the only ones concerned with these laws; as for now, you may drive and talk on your hands-free device. How long? Nobody knows. If you wish to find out more you can look in an online newspaper or check out the NTSB's website.