An on-line retailer of telephone headsets known as Headsets.com is offering a free headset to any person who gets a ticket for driving while talking on a cell phone.  The Company's  President, Mike Faith, was quoted as saying, “There’s just no way you can chat on the phone and keep the same attention on the road."  Presently there is legislation outlawing cell phone usage while driving in parts of many states including Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and the District of Columbia.  Some areas of California and Washington are passing similar legislation. This report is according to an article by Eve Sulivan, contributing editor for TMCnet.

In an effort  to promote similar legislation in more states and to prevent accidents,  Headsets.com will offer a free cell phone headset to anyone who sends them a copy of their traffic citation for talking on the cell phone while driving.  According to statistics 2,600 people are killed and as many as 330,000 are injured each year in accidents related to driver distraction from cell phone use.

In Atlanta back in 2001, fashion model Niki Taylor was injured in a car accident when the driver of the vehicle that she in was trying to answer a cell phone when he lost control and smashed into a utility pole.  Even though she was wearing a seat belt, Taylor suffered very serious injuries, including a collapsed lung and liver damage.  She was unconscious for six weeks after the accident.  “I just feel compelled to try and do something about tragedys like this,” Faith said.  Studies have shown that people talking on cell phones are eighteen percent slower to react while talking on their cell and take up to seventeen percent times longer to regain speed after braking, slowing down others on the road.

Mr. Faith believes people will continue to talk on a phone and drive. Ideally, drivers should stop their car and pull over when making or recieving a phone call, but he hopes this program will help those finding it hard to stop to at least take a step in the right direction. “Of course, we encourage everyone to pull over if they have to make or receive a call – it’s the only way to be really safe,” he said. Call 1-800-HEADSETS for more information about his program.