Car wrecks have been around since the cars were made. Almost all the accidents occur either to vehicle malfunctioning or a careless driver driving recklessly. The cell phones have taken the spotlight for grabbing the driver’s attention. More and more accidents happen due to people talking on their cell phones. Cell phone companies, other insurance companies and driving schools are trying to inform the drivers about the result of using a cell phone while driving. Driving schools often show tragic videos and officers are sent to schools to spread the message. Some get the message and take actions while others don’t care at all. David Strayer and Frank Drews completed a research to see the effects of cell phone use while driving. The results showed that the effects from cell phone use affected the driving performance on both young drivers and older drivers. They says that “Compared with single-task (i.e., driving-only) conditions, when drivers used cell phones their reactions were 18% slower, their following distance was 12% greater, and they took 17% longer to recover the speed that was lost following braking”(640). Talking on the phone changes our reaction time significantly. We can say our brain multitasks, but driving and talking on the phone is more than multitasking. Our brain can handle it but it will focus on only one thing at a time, making our reaction time is slower.
Most states have agreed to ban cell phone usage while driving, unless a hands-free device is used. Over the last few years, different hands-free gadgets were released that lets us talk on the phone and use both hands on the steering wheel. With the Bluetooth technology, drivers are now able to use both their hands and not worry about dropping the phone. This big step brought the drivers to a safer level and made their driving more confident. Even though these devices are used, drivers are still not safe enough. Cell phones are not only designed for talking; they are also made for texting. Texting while driving is even more dangerous than talking, as attention is required to read, type and send the message. More states are stepping up and fighting against this issue. Emily Holbrook states that texting is restricted in some states due to the tragic accidents. She says “To combat this growing, deadly problem, 17 states and the District of Columbia have banned texting while driving” (16). If these seventeen states have banned texting, what are the rest waiting for? Are they waiting for another family with a loss to step up and take action? Something has to be done before another person is injured or killed. Texting while driving is as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. It delays reaction time and can cause loss of control over the vehicle. It only takes a moment for the accident to happen. There are other causes that lead to accidents and they might happen more often but this is big issue for all the drivers around the world. Texting while driving will cause damage to both parties when it ends up in an accident.
Cell phones play a big role in our everyday lives and we are more and more dependent on them. Over the years, designers have tweaked them around and now they are much smaller and easier to use. Anyone at an age can use one and they are more affordable than ever. But they are a big traffic concern. When using the cell phone while driving, the reaction time is slower and that is enough to cause a traffic collision. Cell phone use is the leading cause of traffic accidents. I urge drivers not to use the cell phone while driving, whether it’s talking or texting. Using a cell phone puts the driver at risk of a collision. Any distraction while driving is dangerous, but cell phones have really crossed the line. So before using the cell phone while driving, think about it, it might be the last call.
Works Cited
David L Strayer, and Frank A Drews. "Profiles in Driver Distraction: Effects of Cell Phone Conversations on Younger and Older Drivers. " Human Factors 46.4 (2004): 640- 649. Platinum Periodicals, ProQuest. Web. 14 Oct. 2010.
Heimbuch, Jaymi. "CES 2010 - Nielson Fact Sheet Reveals Surprising Statistics About American Gadget Use." TreeHugger. 11 Jan. 2010. Web. 14 Oct. 2010. <http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/01/ces-2010-nielsen-fact-sheet-reveals- surprising-statistics-about-american-gadget-use.php>.
Holbrook, E.. "Unsafe at Any Speed. " Risk Management 56.8 (2009): 16-16. ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry, ProQuest. Web. 14 Oct. 2010.
