This week the National Transportation Safety Board said North Carolina and the other 49 states should ban practically all use of cell phones (including the hands-free variety that some folks think is safer) and other portable electronic devices while driving. [12/20 update: Car-phoning is a convenient habit that would be hard to give up. See today's Road Worrier column with a vigorous debate in the comment section, and add your thoughts.]

Is this a great idea, or is it going way too far? Does phoning make you dangerous behind the wheel -- or are you confident that you won't kill yourself while you're yakking with your secretary or your boyfriend?  I'm writing about this Monday. Please let me hear from you by email, with your name and daytime contact info. Or call me 919-829-4527.

This far-reaching recommendation came after NTSB blamed a texting driver for starting a chain-reaction pileup in Missouri in August 2010, in which two people were killed and 38 others were injured. As the Associated Press reported:

"According to NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration], more than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents", said [NTSB] Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "It is time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning off electronic devices when driving."

"No call, no text, no update, is worth a human life."

Critics protested that NTSB was over-reaching. ... [MORE]

Sure, it's the automobile driver's responsibility to watch out for people walking across the street.  But pedestrians bear part of the safety burden, too.

NCDOT says distracted walking is a safety hazard, just as distracted driving is. Pedestrians should stay off their mobile phones, unplug their mobile music, and pay more attention to traffic.

I'm reporting on this today.  If you've had experience with reckless pedestrians who nearly got whacked while they yacked on the phone -- or if you want to confess your own lapses in pedestrian safety -- I'd like to hear from you by phone (919-829-4527) or email.  Don't forget to include your name and daytime phone number.

Taiwanese cell phone maker HTC's recently opened Durham office now employs about 60 people and is looking to add a dozen more.

HTC announced late last year plans to open a research and development office in Durham. The company chose Durham over Seattle and Atlanta.

HTC said at the time that the office would initially employ 45 people, with that number expected to increase to 99 within five years.

The average annual wage for jobs was expected to be $125,000.

HTC received $150,000 in incentives from the city of Durham.

The company has a dozen job openings in North Carolina listed on its website for a range of positions, including financial analysts, market analysts and design engineers.
 

A cluster of historically controversial transportation measures face quick action in the legislature today or tomorrow, including:

* A ban on hand-held cell phone use for commercial truckers;
* Exemptions from highway weight limits in some circumstances for some trucks hauling concrete and other goods; and
* An order blocking state Department of Transportation plans to build raised center medians on parts of three roads where some residents or businesses have complained: Falls of Neuse Road in North Raleigh, U.S. 70 in Kinston, and U.S. 64 in Asheboro.

[Correction 1:15pm Wednesday: The original post said the legislative action items also included a cap on the state gas tax. That was an error, based on erroneous information published on the General Assembly's website. There is no proposal on the legislative calendar today regarding the gas tax.]

... [MORE]

Add another suspect to the list of possible causes for plummeting honey bee populations: cell phones. Is it founded or just internet buzz?

What effects radiation from cell phones have on users is a looming question with no definitive answers. How does your cell phone compare?

Recently researchers shared a study showing mobile phone use stimulates brain cell activity. The finding is vague, but there is an FCC imposed limit as to how much radiation a cell phone can emit.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is the measure of the amount of radio frequency energy absorbed by the body when using a cell phone. The maximum SAR level allowed by the FCC is a SAR level of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg). This level is usually found on the device on a label buried within the battery cover, but it should also be listed in the product documentation.

A federal agency based in Research Triangle Park is conducting a study to determine if cell-phone radiation causes cancer or other health hazards. The National Toxicology Program expects to finish the study in 2012 and present its findings by 2014. The program is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Scientists generally work from the premise that no amount of radiation is good. There are a number of common household items sources that emit what are considered to harmless levels of radiation including some TVs, computer monitors, smoke detectors, antique glassware & ceramics and even some foods. Our Sun emits radiation. Most of which is filtered by the Earth's atmosphere. So completely avoiding radiation may not be possible  and while the radiation from your cell phone and other devices is not exactly a sought out feature, it may not necessarily be harmful.

Keep in mind these are microwaves which are less powerful than x-rays.

Users will have to decide whether or not caution should be exercised, but specialized cases, hands-free devices and even just simple moderation can reduce exposure.

Below you will find updated lists of the cell phones with the highest SAR levels and lowest SAR levels. For reference, since they do not appear in the lists, the iPhone SAR levels are .97 for the original EDGE model, 1.38 for the 3G, .79 for the 3GS,  AT&T's iPhone 4 is rated at .1.17 SAR, and Verizon's iPhone at 1.18. 

Here is a link to where you can check your device if it is not listed.

20 highest SAR levels in cell phones

1     Motorola Bravo     1.59
2     Motorola Droid 2 Global     1.58
3     Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou)     1.56
4     Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro     1.55
4      Kyocera Jax S1300     1.55
6      Motorola i335     1.53
7      Motorola Defy     1.52
7      Motorola Grasp     1.52
7      ZTE Salute     1.52
10     LG Rumor 2     1.51
11     Motorola Droid     1.49
11     Sanyo Vero     1.49
11     Motorola Droid 2     1.49
14     HTC Desire     1.48
15     LG Chocolate Touch     1.47
16     Kyocera Wild Card M1000     1.46
17     Kyocera X-tc     1.45
17     Motorola i576     1.45
19     Motorola Stature i9     1.44
20     Motorola Droid X     1.43

20 lowest SAR levels in cell phones

1     Samsung Blue Earth     0.196
2     Samsung Acclaim     0.29
3     Huawei Ideos X5     0.34
4     LG Quantum     0.35
5     Samsung Haven     0.41
5     Samsung Evergreen     0.41
7      Samsung Captivate     0.42
8      Samsung Smiley     0.43
9      HTC Surround     0.439
10     Doro PhoneEasy 410     0.445
11     Motorola Devour     0.45
11     Motorola i890     0.45
13     Kyocera Neo E1100     0.479
14     Samsung Contour     0.49
15     HTC Imagio     0.498
16     Motorola Flipside     0.5
17     Samsung Flight SGH-A797     0.505
18     Samsung Nexus S     0.51
18     Samsung SGH-T249     0.51
20     Samsung Rugby II SGH-A847(AT&T)     0.52
 

via cnet

OK, in my clumsy wording I gave some readers the wrong impression when I confessed to a weakness for using my smart phone when I drive, in ways that are not smart (see today's Road Worrier column, with reader comments).

Actually I'm not begging the General Assembly to halt my risky behavior. I'm getting around to making a 2011 resolution that I will halt it, myself.

I tried not to be smug about my successful vow to quit talking on the phone while I drive ... [MORE]

Jud Bowman, founder and CEO of PocketGear, isn't worried about Apple Inc. dominating the booming market for cell-phone applications.

A story in the Wall Street Journal this week noted that Apple's market power and the entry of other giants such as Google into the apps store business is increasing pressure on small players such as PocketGear and GetJar.

There are about 125 million iPhones and other Apple devices out there, and those users will download more than $1 billion worth of apps from Apple's store this year. But there are billions of other mobile devices worldwide, Bowman points out.

"Apple has shown us the incredible potential," he said in a phone interview today. "There's a huge potential for other companies going after this market."

His Durham company develops and runs stores that sell games and other apps for more than 40 phone companies or handset makers, and is racing to add more. So far this year, the number of customers to those stores has increased about 370 percent from a year ago, Bowman said.