Cell Phones, Traffic Deaths, and Politics

I note that under a "Freedom of Information Act" request, the New York Times forced the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to release a copy of a 2003 report on cell phones and "Distracted Driving."

Supposedly, it was Congress (this time) which "ordered" that the report be withheld, not the science hating Bush Administration. I'd like to see some names. Who was involved, and was their "debt" to the cell phone industry so great that they "pushed" the NHTSA to suppress the scientific evidence?

Were the same forces at work over at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in their examination of the facts and their conclusions regarding the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis? Was the lack of a public hearing to examine the facts done to avoid embarrassing Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, a Republican "star?" After all he vetoed money for road maintenance in Minnesota.

All politicians seem to lack a certain amount of candor and honesty. Republicans just seem to have taken dishonesty to entirely new levels.

I find it entirely plausible that Republicans might have "ordered" the suppression of research which might have "damaged" the cell phone industry while saving lives. Republicans have a long history of supporting big business at the expense of ordinary citizens.

I hope that news organizations continue to research the issue. The people who "ordered" the suppression of potentially life saving research to support the cell phone lobby should be named and asked to account for their actions.

And, now that the secret's out, how about publishing a clean copy of the report on the NHTSA web site, and formally submit it to Congress for review?