Cars + Cell Phones = A Deadly Equation
Author: Peter Kent
Author: Peter Kent
Wireless communication has dramatically improved daily
life, but mobile phone technology also has a dramatic
downside: the proliferation of cell phone use by drivers
has made the roads considerably more dangerous.
Cell Phones are a Leading Cause of Driver Distraction
A joint study released by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech
Transportation Institute in April 2006 concluded that
nearly 80 percent of car crashes and 65 percent of
near-crashes occur within three seconds of some kind of
driver distraction. Dialing a cell phone ranked among the
most dangerous distractions, tripling the risk of being
involved in an auto accident. Unlike the danger presented
by dialing, the study found that talking on a cell phone
was less dangerous than drowsiness or reaching for a
falling object. However, the prevalence of cell phone use
by drivers makes it the one of the most common - and
therefore most dangerous - factors in car and truck
crashes. According to the NHTSA, there are over 10 million
U.S. drivers talking on cellular phones at any given
moment, an alarming figure given the link between cell
phones and distracted driving.
Cell Phones Bans on the Rise
In response to the increasing evidence linking cellular
phone use and auto accidents, a number of states have
started to ban their use on the roads. States with
legislation restricting cell phone use while driving
include New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and
Connecticut. In 2008, California will join the ranks of
states banning hand-held phone use by drivers. In addition,
according to the National Conference of State Legislatures,
14 states have banned mobile phone use by minors as of
November 2006.
Hands-Free is No Safety Guarantee
Many drivers have switched to hands-free mobile phone
devices in an effort to cut down on their risk of being
involved in car accidents. However, recent evidence
suggests that even a hands-free cell phone presents a
danger on the road. According to the Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety study conducted in Perth, Australia in
2005, switching from hand-held cell phones to hands-free
devices does not reduce the risk of car crashes. Another
study conducted by the University of Utah, and published in
the summer of 2006, the issue of human factors also
concludes that hands-free cellular phones carry the same
risk as hand-held phones. Evidence on hands-free phones
continue to indicate that talking on the phone is a
dangerous distraction, reducing driver alertness and
reaction time, regardless of the type of cell phone being
used.
In the event that you are involved in a car or truck
accident in which a cellular phone has played a part,
contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney right
away. Your auto accident lawyer can help you file a suit,
if appropriate, and possibly recover damages to which you
may be entitled.
About the Author:
To learn more about cell phone law, visit
http://www.LegalView.com , where readers will find an array
of legal information ranging from cell phone law to
mesothelioma treatments to prescription drug recalls, such
as the Singulair recall. Singulair is an allergy
suppressant that has allegedly been linked to side effects
such as suicidal thoughts and tendencies. To learn more,
visit http://singulair.legalview.com/ .
life, but mobile phone technology also has a dramatic
downside: the proliferation of cell phone use by drivers
has made the roads considerably more dangerous.
Cell Phones are a Leading Cause of Driver Distraction
A joint study released by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech
Transportation Institute in April 2006 concluded that
nearly 80 percent of car crashes and 65 percent of
near-crashes occur within three seconds of some kind of
driver distraction. Dialing a cell phone ranked among the
most dangerous distractions, tripling the risk of being
involved in an auto accident. Unlike the danger presented
by dialing, the study found that talking on a cell phone
was less dangerous than drowsiness or reaching for a
falling object. However, the prevalence of cell phone use
by drivers makes it the one of the most common - and
therefore most dangerous - factors in car and truck
crashes. According to the NHTSA, there are over 10 million
U.S. drivers talking on cellular phones at any given
moment, an alarming figure given the link between cell
phones and distracted driving.
Cell Phones Bans on the Rise
In response to the increasing evidence linking cellular
phone use and auto accidents, a number of states have
started to ban their use on the roads. States with
legislation restricting cell phone use while driving
include New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and
Connecticut. In 2008, California will join the ranks of
states banning hand-held phone use by drivers. In addition,
according to the National Conference of State Legislatures,
14 states have banned mobile phone use by minors as of
November 2006.
Hands-Free is No Safety Guarantee
Many drivers have switched to hands-free mobile phone
devices in an effort to cut down on their risk of being
involved in car accidents. However, recent evidence
suggests that even a hands-free cell phone presents a
danger on the road. According to the Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety study conducted in Perth, Australia in
2005, switching from hand-held cell phones to hands-free
devices does not reduce the risk of car crashes. Another
study conducted by the University of Utah, and published in
the summer of 2006, the issue of human factors also
concludes that hands-free cellular phones carry the same
risk as hand-held phones. Evidence on hands-free phones
continue to indicate that talking on the phone is a
dangerous distraction, reducing driver alertness and
reaction time, regardless of the type of cell phone being
used.
In the event that you are involved in a car or truck
accident in which a cellular phone has played a part,
contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney right
away. Your auto accident lawyer can help you file a suit,
if appropriate, and possibly recover damages to which you
may be entitled.
About the Author:
To learn more about cell phone law, visit
http://www.LegalView.com , where readers will find an array
of legal information ranging from cell phone law to
mesothelioma treatments to prescription drug recalls, such
as the Singulair recall. Singulair is an allergy
suppressant that has allegedly been linked to side effects
such as suicidal thoughts and tendencies. To learn more,
visit http://singulair.legalview.com/ .
