Should We Limit or Ban Cell Phones While Driving



Posted: Thursday, December 11, 2008

by Rick Adams
Nations Traffic Safety School

Serious Injuries and Fatalities from Auto Collisions have become almost epidemic in the United States . In the last 10 years, the US has had over 500,000 automobile related fatalities. Few of us take the time to ponder the possibility that we are actually operating a potential "lethal weapon". While DUI and Excessive Speed are statistically the leading cause of fatalities and severe injuries, distractions is third and rising rapidly.

In our fast paced techno society, multi-tasking has progressively worked its way into our normal driving habits. Multi-tasking is considered to be a mixture of things that takes a drivers attention away from the road with cell phones (and text messaging) being added to the list in the last decade. Over the last 15 years, younger drivers in particular consider cell phones as an extension of their lives using them at will and for extended periods while driving their cars.

The exact number of collisions caused by drivers distracted using a cell phone is still not clear due to the way data was collected at the scene in the past. However, the current estimate is that Cell Phone Distraction causes about 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the US annually.

Growing statistical data and studies show that a driver's attention span is severely challenged while talking on a cell phone. More recent studies from the UK clearly indicate that a driver's reaction time using a cell phone is actually slower than a driver that is legally DUI even in hands-free mode. Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004 showed that drivers talking on cell phones were 18 percent slower reacting to brake lights, and they also took 17 percent longer to regain the speed once they brake.

There are a growing number of States and countries around the world that have enacted laws limiting or banning cell phone use while driving. At least 49 countries (including most industrialized nations) and 24 States have partial or complete bans on using cell phones while driving.

Should Florida enact laws that limit or ban the use of cell phones while driving? Or should the government stay out of it allowing High School Drivers Education Programs, Defensive Driving Schools and Public Service Announcements to educate citizens.

Is using a cell phone while driving a "fundamental right"? Or is it a significant Safety Risk that the government has a responsibility to regulate.

What do you think? Go to our Blog to take our survey and leave comments for others to read including our State Legislators.

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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)
» left by Sandra E. Graham
 3 years 157 days ago.
247 fans.
There is no doubt that cell phones are a contributor to auto accidents, especially now that texting is a going thing. A young man in our town just last week was texting while driving and killed another motorist. One week later, the young man who was facing charges of vehicular manslaughter, shot himself in the head and died. So now we have two deaths. But again, Cell phones like guns do not kill people--people kill people. Some people just aren't smart enough to own a cell phone or a gun. Thanks for sharing, Rick, and Welcome to Searchwarp.
 
Sandra
» left by Joel Hendon
 3 years 156 days ago.
127 fans.
Rick, this is a great article and very meaningful and important. I, for one, think they should be banned completely while one is driving. I have on an occasion, taken a call that came in while I was driving but I pulled over as soon as I could. I realize that my mind is not on my driving nearly as well when I am on the phone.
» left by Dianne Lehmann
 3 years 153 days ago.
137 fans.
Hi Rick.
 
I have been nearly run into by drivers using cell phones on a couple of occasions. All that saved me was the fact that when I am driving, I am doing nothing else. Well that and maybe ping pong. :) It really sharpens the reflexes.
 
I think cell phones should be shut off whenever the vehicle they are in is moving. I would not consider it an infringement of "rights" to ban the use of cell phones while driving. I can easily envision a day when a vehicle that is in a forward or reverse gear would have a device to disable the cell phone of the occupant. Let's face it, even the fact that it rings or notifies you of a text message is distracting.
 
As you can see, I feel fairly strongly on this issue.
 
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Dianne
» left by LeahG Artist
 3 years 153 days ago.
192 fans. Follow LeahG Artist on twitter!
In the Uk using a phone while driving is illegal though hands free are obviously ok.
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