Cell Phones Should Not Be Used While Driving - Report Example

Cell Phones Should Not Be Used While Driving This essay explains various reasons why cell phones should not be used while driving. The use of cell phones while driving has become a major cause of road accidents across the world in recent years, almost surpassing deaths resulting from driving under the influence. Texting, playing games, or answering phone calls while driving, not only endangers lives of the drivers, but also the lives of other innocent road users. The essay endeavors to be persuasive in order to discourage the habit of using cell phones while driving. The essay will approach the issue of using cell phones while driving in the background of increased cell phone-related road accidents. The essay contains persuasive various philosophical and scientific arguments backed up with convincing statistics that clearly indicate the danger of using cell phones while driving. Key words: Cell phones, Road Accidents, Cell Phones Should Not Be Used While Driving The use of cell phones simultaneously while operating motor vehicles should be discouraged heavily because it is a very hazardous trend. This trend endangers the life of the driver and other road users and oblivious pedestrians. Cell phones have become part-and-parcel of human life, influencing communication and other aspects of human behavior. If these useful devices are not used in the right contexts, they can be equally dangerous1. For drivers, for instance, cell phones are a major cause of distraction since they draw the driver’s attention away from the road and off the steering wheel to focus on the cell phone. The driver is expected to have all his attention on the road as any distraction is likely to make him lose control of the motor vehicle. Recent scientific studies support the fact that drivers are less likely to concentrate on their job while using cell phones at the same time. Using cell phones by texting, making or receiving calls, playing games or browsing the internet should be discouraged strongly among drivers because it jeopardizes the driver’s life as well as that of many other road users, increases the rate of road accident-related deaths, and leads to recklessness on the road. Drivers who use cell phones not only jeopardize their lives but also other road users and innocent by-standers. Using cell phones while driving simultaneously is a life threatening experience that can have disastrous results to road users. The use of cell phones while driving reduces a driver’s reaction time during an emergency on the road2. A recent study by the University of Utah released in the journal of psychological science affirms that drivers conversing on mobile phones are twice as likely to hit people in front of them. This is attributed to the slow reaction of these drivers that results in slow breaking, as well as slower acceleration after breaking3. According to national statistics in the US National Traffic Safety Institute released in 2011, about 11, 388 people die annually, and 31 others die daily because of cell phone related road accidents. About 450,000 other people sustained injuries in the same year due to cell phone-related road accidents. These fearful statics show great similarities with other causes of road accidents such as driving under the influence. This shows that cell phones are equally dangerous when used while driving. A good examination of what goes on the road reveals that there is actually more than meets the eye in these statistics. A large number of cell phone related accidents across the country often go unreported, and thus do not feature in the National Traffic Safety Institute’s statistics. Similarly, cell phones lower down the concentration rate of drivers. Efficient driving has three main elements; great concentration, accuracy, and judgment4. Reducing, or worsening any of these elements through using cell phones increases the risk of road accidents. Driving is a cognitive process that requires great concentration. One has to keep his or her mind on the road and the steering wheel. Doing this will ensure that a driver pays attention to the road signs, traffic messages, and takes note of other road users, including other motorists, pedestrians, and by-standers. On the other hand, if a driver opts to use cell phones simultaneously while driving, he deviates his attention from the road and concentrates on the phone conversation. Cell phones distract the driver’s visual, auditory, mental and physical capacity from making accurate judgments while driving. The situation is likely to worsen if the conversation is emotional, or if it requires one to think before giving a response. Due to this, the driver is likely to lose attention from the road and may likely overlook traffic signs and run into other motorists and road users. The traffic department attests to the fact that several accidents on the road occur due to inattention of drivers who use cell phones on the road while driving5. Another important factor that is likely to increase the likelihood of cell phone-related accidents is the type of messages that drivers exchange with their respondents. Some of the messages may be shocking, emotional, surprising, or abusive and may affect the driver’s emotional and cognitive response to the driving process. When using cell phones, the driver may receive certain messages that are likely to affect him or her to the extent that he or she becomes overwhelmed and loses control of the vehicle. While these incidents are rare, they certainly do occur and wreckages and fatal accidents6. In the light of these facts, the dangers of using cell phones while driving have become clearer. Drivers play a special road in protecting lives of other road users by observing traffic rules and paying attention to their work. Driving is, therefore, a noble job that comes with its responsibilities to the driver himself and to other road users. Using cell phones while driving undermines these responsibilities and is tantamount to impunity and ignorance on the part of the drivers7. Cell phones have made public road a deathbed for many people across the country. The use of other hands free communication devices such as blue tooth gadgets is no better while driving. These devices have much the same effect like cell phones because they both reduce concentration levels of the driver. From these facts, it is apparent that cell phones should not be used while driving. In order to ensure this is implemented, there is need to enact laws to that effect. Several states in the country have already taken a major step in this regard and are enjoying the fruits of such efforts. The use of mobile phones while at the same time driving has been outlawed in about six states and four major cities in the country8. These states and cities record minimal numbers of cell phone-related road accidents in comparison to the other states. This is a clear indication that the only way to make American road safer is through prohibiting the use of cell phones simultaneously while driving. However, regardless of whether laws to prohibit using cell phones while driving exist, drivers should still exercise great caution while on the road. What’s more, drivers should recognize the responsibility they have on themselves and other innocent individuals using public roads. What is needed in this regard, therefore, is a drastic change in behavior among drivers after understanding the effects of losing concentration through cell phone communication while driving. The police and other government agencies should also be on the lookout for rogue drivers who do not mind the lives of other road users. It is important to appreciate the controversy that this issues raises in the American society, but there is need to prevent drivers from jeopardizing their own lives and those of other road users by increasing the rate of road accident-related deaths, and leading to recklessness on the road. Prohibiting use of cell phones while driving is a necessary step in making American roads safer for all road users. The police and other government agencies have a role in putting in place appropriate frameworks for preventing cell phone communication while driving. It is also important for each driver to make an individual commitment to make the roads safer9. Everybody should play a part in making the roads safer through avoiding using cell phones while driving. In conclusion, the use of cell phones while driving risks the lives of drivers, passengers, other motorists and pedestrians. With effects such as reducing concentration, lowering response rate, and impairing emotional and visual judgment, cell phones are as much a threat to road users like alcohol and other drugs and substances10. It is, therefore, important to discourage the use of cell phones while driving in order to preserve more lives. This can be achieved through public sensitization campaigns that will educate drivers about the dangers of using cell phones while driving. References Benedetto, A.;Calvi, A. & DAmico, F. (2012). “Effects of mobile telephone tasks on driving performance: a driving simulator study.” Advances in Transportation Studies, (26), 29-44. Cramer, S.; Mayer, J. & Ryan, S. (2007). “College Students Use Cell Phones While Driving More Frequently Than Found in Government Study.” Journal of American College Health, (56)2, 181-184. Nurullah, A. S.; Thomas, J.; & Vakilian, F. (2013). “The prevalence of cell phone use while driving in a Canadian province.” Transportation Research: Part F, (19), 52-62. Reimer, B.; Mehler, B. & Donmez, B. (2013). “A study of young adults examining phone dialing while driving using a touchscreen vs. a button style flip-phone.” Transportation Research: Part F, (23) 57-68. Seppa, N. (2013). “Impactful distraction: Talking while driving poses dangers that people seem unable to see.” Science News, (184)4, 20-24. Waddell, L. P. & Wiener, K. K.K. (2013). “What’s driving illegal mobile phone use? Psychosocial influences on drivers’ intentions to use hand-held mobile phones.” Transportation Research: Part F, (22), 1-11. Weller, J. A.; Shackelford, C.; Dieckmann, N. & Slovic, P. (2013). “Possession Attachment Predicts Cell Phone Use While Driving.” Health Psychology,(32)4, 379-387. Wu, A. & Weseley, A. (2013). “The Effects of Statistical Format and Population Specificity on Adolescent Perceptions of Cell Phone Use While Driving.” Current Psychology, (32) 1, 32-43. Zhao, N., Reimer, B., Mehler, B., D’Ambrosio, L. A. & Coughlin, J. (2013). “Self-reported and observed risky driving behaviors among frequent and infrequent cell phone users.” Accident Analysis & Prevention, (61), 71-77. Read More