MX iTunes, App Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store

Mobile Phone Usage while Driving

By Betty Everly


It has been widely accepted that using the cell phone while driving leads to distracted driving and is a serious safety issue. It was even a congressional issue entailing legislation in order to reduce the number of accidents that occur due to it. In fact, it is commonly felt that the most innovative discoveries in the automotive travel are not the vehicle nor the people who drive them or the roads but the telephone conversations that drivers indulge in.

Cell phones first became widely operated in the year 1984 and the number of users has been fast escalating to the extent that safety has been compromised due to the distracted driving of cell phone users. The elderly group is more vulnerable to these risks as they have less control while talking. Driving requires different types of manipulation at times to avoid accidents. Various tests have been performed in order to find the effect of telephonic conversations while driving and the extent of the distraction. These have proven beyond doubt that with driving distractions difficult driving manoeuvres are not possible. This also has to do with the type of calls as the complex calls result in more distracted driving when compared to a normal cell phone conversation.

Driving is therefore definitely affected by cell phone conversations and in fact any type of conversation, even the normal one with a co-passenger could have this kind of distracting effect. But if you possess a cell phone with you, the amount of conversations tends to go up. The cell phone conversations are mostly likely to be of the business type which is more intense and hence is a greater potential hazard.

No rigorous research has been done to link use of cell phones to accidents but most people agree that perception and responses do get affected. The distraction posed by using cell phones while driving leads to inattention and improper lookout which has been the major causes of accidents.

If you must call during driving, it is better to use speed dial and place calls when the traffic is comparatively less. The nature of the conversation also is important as some discussions lead to a lot of mental stress and these must be avoided during driving as it can lead to distraction.




About the Author:



0 comments: