Information About Cell Phones & Driving
Using a cell phone while driving, whether to talk or to text, is a major distraction that causes car accidents, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). There are laws against cell phone use and texting while driving in many states, and those laws are tougher for novice drivers and bus drivers. Drivers are unlikely to altogether give up using their cell phones while on the road, but there are a few basic safety measures that can minimize the chance of a cell phone-related accident.
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Dangers of Cell Phone Use While Driving
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Cell phone use while driving takes the driver's attention away from the road. Dialing and holding a phone while steering can be an immediate physical hazard, but the actual conversation may also distract a driver enough to impair reaction time. Impaired reaction time means that it's harder to avoid an accident; divided attention means a driver may not even be aware of routine traffic controls, let alone developing hazards.
Cell Phone-related Accidents
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III reports that the National Safety Council published a study in January 2010 which said people talking on cell phones caused 1.4 million crashes in 2009, and people texting while driving caused another 200,000 crashes. Other studies found that cell phone use while driving has not decreased since the enacting of laws against it, and indeed, in states where hand held cell phone use is banned, the number of accidents related to cell phones remained the same. In other words, people are not changing their behavior despite ample proof of a problem and legal prohibitions designed to deter the behavior.
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Cell Phone Bans
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As of April 2010, six states, Washington DC and the Virgin Islands banned the use of hand held cell phones, and treated cell phone use as a cause for which a police officer could stop a motorist. Twenty-three states, Washington DC and Guam had bans on texting. Some states had complete bans on cell phone use for novice drivers and bus drivers.
Is Cell Phone Use Banned in My State?
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Check with your state department of motor vehicles to determine your state's rules and penalties for cell phone use while driving. Not knowing the rules is not an excuse for breaking them. The best way to avoid a ticket for cell phone use---or worse, an accident---is prevention.
Prevention
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Purchase and use a hands-free device for your phone. Usually consisting of a small earpiece with a microphone, the device may be wired or wireless. Either way, you can answer calls at the touch of a button and keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. If you don't use a hands-free device, then pull off the road to a safe area to take a call. Never dial or text while driving.
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References
- Photo Credit cell phone with head set image by Joann Cooper from Fotolia.com
