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Use While Driving

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Cell Phone Use While Driving Cell phone use while driving continues to be a concern for countless Americans. Numerous people believe the government should ban the use of cell phones while driving. This becomes additionally difficult with the advanced technology being linked with automobiles. Making cell phones connect directly to the car does not promote safe driving. Being safe on the road requires the driver’s full attention. This means no distractions. The mere task of reaching for a cell phone while driving raises the risk of a crash or near-miss. This is especially true for young drivers. Numerous states have implemented laws around the use of cell phones while driving, but these laws are not being enforced. The probability a …show more content…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim, “Distracted driving activities include things like using a cell phone, texting, and eating” (“Distracted Driving”, 2014, para. 2). Using in-vehicle technologies can also be sources of distraction. There are three particular types of distraction which include visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual distraction involves taking eyes off the road while manual distraction includes taking hands off the steering wheel. The cognitive distraction takes the driver’s mind off of driving. Cell phones contribute to all of these types of distractions. For instance, texting takes the driver’s attention away from driving for longer periods and involves all three types of distraction. It entails looking at the phone while taking hands off the wheel to type; all while taking the driver’s mind off the road. This too well known distraction of texting and driving is also related to drinking and driving. A leading researcher states, “We found that people are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood-alcohol limit, Drews said. In fact, while some of the participants crashed in a virtual vehicle while sober and chatting, none of them crashed while drunk” (“Should Cell Phones”, 2009, para. 12). This also constitutes in slower reaction times. Just as an alcohol impaired driver, a driver using a cell phone also has …show more content…

1). Another study revealed that nearly 70% of drivers in the United States reported they had talked on their cell phone while driving within the 30 days prior to the survey. Over half of these drivers also reported that they had read or sent text messages or email messages while driving. Unfortunately, the younger and inexperienced drivers have an increased risk of distraction-related crashes resulting in fatalities. In addition to possibly being fined for using a cell phone while driving, a driver may also experience a lawsuit if involved in an accident. For instance, if found driving with only one hand on the steering wheel or taking eyes off the road to reach for a phone or place a call could cause an accident. Failing to manage a proper lookout and paying attention to surrounding dangers due to distractions caused by a cell phone can leave a driver liable for an accident. The majority of employers now mandate that employees sign a contract forbidding them to use a cell phone while driving on company time. Insurance agencies are also starting to pay close attention to the link between cell phone use and car accidents. Obviously, the best way to avoid all of these issues is to put the cell phone away while

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