Cell Phones While Driving

Cell Phones and Driving In today’s society we’ve all become attached to our cell phones. Cell phones make our lives easier in many ways we can check our email, receive phone calls, send text messages, listen to music, and take pictures, all at our finger tips. With all this convenience, however there is a dangerous side to cell phones, and that’s when we use them while driving. Most of us are guilty of using cell phones while driving, but have we ever thought about its danger? Five states plus Washington D.C. have put hand held bans on cell phones while driving. California, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Washington D.C. have hand-held bans, and many states have bans for specific drivers (Cummings). Maine has a ban on cell phone use by drivers under 18 years of age and drivers who have learner’s permits, and those with an immediate drivers license (first two years) (drivinglaws.org). Statistics show that using cell phones while driving can be as dangerous as driving under the influence. A study published by the University of Utah shows that drivers using hand-held cell phones are as impaired as drunk drivers (unews.utah.edu). University of Utah had 40 participants drive a Patrolsim driving simulator 4 different times. Once while unrestricted, once while on a hand held cell phone,

once while on a hands free cell phone, and once while intoxicated to .08 blood alcohol level. Motorists talking on the cell phone both hand held and hands free were 9 percent slower to hit the brakes, displayed 24 variation in following distance after their attention switched. Three of the driver’s rear-ended the pace car; none of the drunk drivers did (University of Utah). A study conducted by Harvard University showed that 1 in 20 accidents are caused by the distraction of a cell phone. Harvard estimates that 2,600 people die and 330,000 are injured each year in cell phone related accidents (Grace). Despite the risk, many teen drivers ignore