Should Use of Cell Phones while Driving Be Banned - Essay Example

English December Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 There should be a law banning cell phone use while driving. 4 Drivers should be able to use cell phones while driving, provided the phones are not handled 5 Government has no right to infringe on an individual's personal choices about using cell phones 6 Conclusion 6 References 7 Should use of cell phones while driving be banned? Abstract This is an argumentative essay that classifies issues why use of cell phones while driving should be banned. This essay has a definite position that it should be banned because of numerous related accidents due to cell phone use while driving. Human rights have been an issue; but after a consultative research on several studies has been reviewed, a conclusive opinion is arrived at that this matter deserves to be banned in all parts of the U.S. Protection of a large majority is more significant than protection of abusive rights. Your name Professor’s name Essay English December 14, 2012 Should use of cell phones while driving be banned? Introduction The continuing rise of car accidents caused by distractions due to cell phone use while driving is a manifestation that there is a need to ban it. People’s belief that they have the right to be left out because they think they are capable of doing the driving while using a cell phone is false since most of the reasons for car accidents are distractions. According to the National Safety Organization [NSO], cell phone distraction is the reason for one out of four US car crashes (NSO , cited by Hanes, Stephanie, January 12, 2010). New findings of the said organization reported that 1.6 million accidents per year are due to cell phone-related use. According to report, 1.4 million crashes are due to people talking on the phone while driving; and 200,000 car accidents are caused by drivers’ texting behind the wheel. Utah University acknowledges use of cell phone while driving is a growing problem as they estimated about 100 million U.S. motorists use cell phones while driving, stating further that “at any given moment, 8 percent of all drivers are talking on a cell phone. The three separate studies of Utah University which are all related to cell phone use while driving found out that … hands-free cell phones causes same distractions as handheld cell phones. “inattention blindness” wherein motorists look directly at the road condition but don’t really see them because they are distracted by the conversation. Reactions of teenagers and young adults who talk on cell phones while driving are compared to slow elderly driver. For instance, the report carried by Hanes Stephanie, said… Brandie Eadie, 16, (photo at left) looked down on her cell phone to read a text message as she drives through a rubber cone course in Seattle. … Eadie knocked down multiple cones meant to simulate pedestrians. Same source reported killing of a 12 year old boy in an automobile accident because driver was texting. There should be a law banning cell phone use while driving. Senseless deaths and damages to properties due to cell phone use while driving should be stopped. While there are already 19 States in the U.S. that banned this practice, there is no uniform law that puts an end to it. There ought to be a law banning cell phone use while driving because there is sufficient evidence that drivers who use hand-held or hand- free cell phones are as dangerous as a drunken driver. The three year study of University of Utah, headed by Professor David Strayer, found out, that “people are as impaired when they drive and talk on the cell phone as when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood limit.” Clearly, a person puts the lives of his passengers and his own to a great risk when the driver uses a cell phone and drive, and impairment is just the same. Whether it is hand held or hand-free cell phones, still the University of Utah holds the view that it still causes accidents because driver tends to slow down while conversing, “or 19 percent slower”, then resumes speed thus causing a crash. Their study showed rear-ended pace car accidents, where drivers were all talking on the phone. Drivers should be able to use cell phones while driving, provided the phones are not handled. While we have settled that use of cell phones while driving should be banned, there are circumstances that use of cell phones in the car is a necessity. It is needed for effective communication of households, businesses and community and use of cell phones in the car becomes as important. Thus, cell phones in the car should not be totally banned but rather a restriction should be passed that the matter be handled properly. Transport Accident Commission campaign (Nov. 2008) advises several measures to avoid accidents, such as; calls should go into a message bank; to park the car before answering the phone; or to leave a voice mail saying telling the incoming caller that the driver is busy driving and will take the call later. (Edition l. p. 12, pdf). Since advantages and benefits to users are many, certain limitations can be handed down by regulators, such as regulations restraining its use in traffic, or while driving. However studies to such benefit are not yet quantified or very limited, if any. Government has no right to infringe on an individual's personal choices about using cell phones The use of cell phone is a personal choice and a right of every individual. It is a human right that facilitates advancement, and deprivation of this right might have adverse effects. People have the right to enjoy freedom that is basically provided for in the US Constitution, and enforced by the United Nations for Human Rights. Specifically, UN stated that … ” International human rights law lays down obligations of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups.” Given this, it is presumed that government has no right to infringe to the individual's personal choices about using cell phones. Conclusion UN believes that human rights are inalienable. They should not be taken away, except in specific situations and according to due process. For example, the right to liberty may be restricted if a person is found guilty of a crime by a court of law. This means, freedom has a right and responsibility. The government has the responsibility to the people to protect human rights of the people. As much as possible, the government should avoid interfering with the freedom of people in enjoying their rights. However, it is the duty of the state to protect people from abuses of freedom. In the same vein, while a person has the right to enjoy his human rights, people have to respect others too. In this high opinion, it is evident that use of cell phone while driving is an abuse. This freedom should be sanctioned if it jeopardizes security and becomes harmful to others. References National Safety Organization cited d by Hanes, Stephanie, (January 12, 2010). Report: Cell phone distraction causes one in four US car crashes, The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 10 December 2012 from University Center of Utah (22 June 2006). Drivers on cell phones are as bad as drunks. Retrieved 10 December 2012 from United Nations Human Rights. 1996. What are Human Rights?” Office of the Higher Commission for Human Rights. Retrieved 10 December 2012 http://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/Pages/WhatareHumanRights.aspx. Transport Accident Commission.(November 2008) Mobile phone use. Guide to safe work related driving. Ed. 1, p. 19. pdf Read More