The Problem of Driving While on a Cellphone

             Cell phones are becoming more widely used for personal rather than business reasons, and they can present a variety of issues for drivers to address. A recent New England Journal of Medicine study concluded that the risk of collision is four times higher during cell phone use. "As cars more and more become an extension of the home and office, we are creating a whole new array of potentially hazardous distractions that must be better understood," said NHTSA Administrator Ricardo Martinez, M.D.
             There are nine countries that ban cell phone use in cars and thirteen states in the U.S. have actually tried to pass legislation dealing with cell phone use. So what is all this fuss about using cell phones while driving? Research shows that it may not be the safest behavior for motorists, and considering that the number of cell phones has grown from 345,000 in 1985 to over 50 million today legislators are taking a closer look at the practice.
             The largest U.S. cellular telephone provider, Verizon, recently agreed to support laws that would ban hand-held cell phone use while driving. A 1997 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found drivers' cellular phone use contributed to 57 fatal crashes in 1997, the most recent year data is available. Additionally, at least one study has compared driving while talking on cellular phones to driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
             We cannot forget that driving is not simply a visual task, but involves listening and motor abilities as well. Using a cellular phone can also take visual and motor attention as well. While dialing the phone the driver must split their vision between the road and the numbers on the phone. In most cases cellular phones are not hands-free which leaves the driver with only one hand on the wheel, decreasing motor ability.
             The Direct Line study, carried out over three months, involved testing the reaction times and driving performance of a pan...

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The Problem of Driving While on a Cellphone. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 11:00, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/88273.html