The Regulation of Cell Phone Use While Driving - Term Paper Example

Should Regulations Regarding the Use of Cell Phones While Driving be Standardized? Marketa Burnett Dr. Christine Barham Research & Writing Introduction Of top of 1,060 injury cases associated with road accidents, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that at least nine people die each day by “distracted driving” (CDC, 2014). In line with this, Jacobson and Gostin (2010) pointed out that “sending text messages, calling from cell phones, watching videos, or “searching the Internet” are among the few common distractions while driving. To effectively reduce the number of road accidents caused by distractions in driving, a total of 39 different states in the US have already ratified some form of laws with regards to the need to ban the use of mobile phones while driving (Ibrahim et al., 2011). Even though several states have ratified some laws with regards to the banning of mobile phones while driving, people can still encounter legal problems when it comes to mitigating the road accidents. To persuade the readers about the need to standardize the regulation of cell phone use while driving, three major problems were identified which will be tackled in details in this paper. Thesis Statement It is dangerous to drivers not to standardize the regulation and restriction of mobile devices while driving. Problems that need to be addressed First Problem Earlier, it was mentioned that each of the 39 different states in the US have its own set of laws when it comes to restrictions in the use of mobile phones while driving (Ibrahim et al., 2011). In line with this, Ibrahim et al. (2011) explained that different states like Oregon and New Jersey control the use of mobile phones to all drivers whereas other states such as Wyoming, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Michigan prohibits texting while driving. In the case of Arizona and Kentucky, only school bus drivers are prohibited to use mobile phones while driving. (See Figure I – Summary of Laws in Different States in the US below) Figure I here Problems may arise from having different set of laws and legislations in each state. One of the most common problems that people may encounter is that this type of arrangement can cause confusion to many drivers in the United States. One problem that may arise from this arrangement is that some drivers may honestly forget about specific mobile phone restrictions while driving from one state to another due to their busy schedule. Second Problem In states like Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Iowa, only young and inexperienced drivers are not allowed to use mobile phone devices while driving (Ibrahim et al., 2011). In reality however, both experienced and inexperienced drivers can be distracted when using mobile phones while driving (Klauer et al., 2014). This becomes problematic because the law engenders discrimination against the young drivers when all drivers suffer the same distraction when using their cell phones while driving. Third Problem States have the option to change their legislations or laws yearly with regards to the use of mobile phones while driving. This frequency in the change of legislation with the use of mobile phones while driving led to the difficulty of educating and informing people about these changes in these laws or legislations. For instance, in 2003, Tennessee, Illinois, and Arkansas enacted a law on the need to restrict the use of mobile phones to all school bus drivers. This law however was changed in 2003 when the local government of Tennessee imposed restrictions in the use of mobile phone devices to all inexperienced drivers in 2005. This was again changed in 2010, when Illinois decided to implement restriction in the use of mobile phone devices to all drivers (Ibrahim et al., 2011). The frequency of these changes makes the law confusing and difficult to implement. The frequency of these changes in the changes in the in the Legislation or Laws in Different States between 1992 to 2010 is summed up in Figure II below. Figure II here. Proposed Solution To solve the issue of road accidents caused by distracted driving and to avoid similar occurrence in the future, there are three viable solutions identified to curb if not totally eliminate the use of mobile devices when driving. These solutions are legislation, public education and awareness and technological improvement. Legislation a. Ban the use of mobile phones when driving The law on banning the use of mobile phone while driving is no longer new. At present, it is implemented in 39 states and 45 countries abroad. The extent of the ban could include the banning of the use of handheld phones while driving. This law is already implemented in 45 countries around the world (Breene, 2009). To avoid circumventing on the ban of the use of handheld phones while driving, the ban should include the use of hands-free mobile phones such as USB enabled earphones that still allows mobile phone use while driving. Lastly, the ban should cover texting on mobile phones. At present, the ban is only enforced on 10 states. It is highly suggested that the ban should be standardized on all states for greater safety and to avoid confusion on the law. b. Public education and awareness Education and awareness is a key for curbing of the use of mobile phones while driving. Historically, education and awareness on safety about driving is effective and this approach could also be used in the banning of the use of mobile phones while driving. The concrete example that could serve as its precedence of success is the awareness on the use of seatbelt while driving. Another is drunk driving where information campaign proved to be effective (Insurance Insititute for Highway Safety, 2014). Public education and awareness would be easier to implement if the law about the restriction and regulation mobile device usage while driving is universal. In the example cited, the efficacy of the information campaign on the use of seatbelt and drunk driving depended on the universality of seatbelt and use and standardized law against drunk driving. c. technological improvement Technological improvement could also aid in preventing drivers to use their mobile phones while driving. Legislation and awareness may not totally compel a driver not use a mobile phone while driving because the temptation is always there to make and receive a call, or text or open mail. Technology improvement can help enforcement by developing a technology that would block incoming and outgoing calls and text when a person is driving to help curb and prevent mobile phone use while driving. Conclusion The death and injury due to car crashes that is associated with mobile phone use is steadily increasing at an alarming rate. The Centers for Disease Control or CDC has recently announced that nine people die each day due to “distracted driving” which mobile phone use is a major component (CDC, 2014). To compound the issue on the use of mobile phone while driving, National Safety Council, a nonprofit health and safety organization estimated that about a quarter of all car crashes involve texting or talking on a mobile phone while driving (Huffington Post, 2014). Inferring from these figures, it is now high time that a law must be a universal law that will be enforced that will ban mobile phone use while driving. The obvious reason for the universal prohibition on the use of mobile device while driving is that the significant portion of car crash are associated with distracted driving. This distracted driving is attributed to texting and calling while driving that causes accidents because the driver becomes distracted to focus on the road. As he is preoccupied calling or texting while driving, his reflex suffers and being such, already has a slower reaction to brake or avoid accidents. Legislators responded by banning mobile phones while driving. This law however is not universal because not all states cover mobile phone ban while driving and this becomes problematic. In addition, the law that covers mobile phone ban is not universal making it confusing and ineffective. For example, in the 39 states that have legislations on the restriction of mobile phone use while driving, the coverage of such law differs from one state to another making legislation prohibition on the use of mobile phones while driving to be ineffective. This is compounded by the fact that some laws are even discriminatory as it only covers the young drivers while experienced drivers are allowed to use mobile phone while driving. Finally, the issue is compounded further by the options of states to change yearly the mobile phone use regulations in driving. This makes education campaign very difficult making the efforts to minimize mobile phone related crashes to be futile. To address the issue of mobile phone use related accidents, the ban and prohibition of the use of mobile phone while driving must be standardized. Making the ban and prohibition of the use of mobile phone while driving universal has several advantages; first it avoids confusion on the part of the drivers on which law to follow, second is the efficacy of education campaign to raise consciousness among drivers about the danger of mobile phone use while driving. Technology can also complement legislation and information campaign by complementing these efforts with technology that will ensure that drivers will not be able to use their mobile phones while driving. References Breene, J. (n.d.). Car telephone use and road safety. The European Commission. Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety Chan, A. (2014, February 5). What Will Make People Stop Using Their Phones While Driving?. The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/05/phones-car-crashes_n_4725610.html CDC. (2014, January 28). Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety: Distracted Driving. Retrieved May 5, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/ Highway safety topics. (n.d.). Highway safety topics. Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics Ibrahim, J., Anderson, E., Burris, S., & Wagenaar, A. (2011). State Laws Restricting Driver Use of Mobile Communications Devices: Distracted-Driving Provisions, 1992–2010. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 40(6): 659-665. Jacobson, P., & Gostin, L. (2010). Reducing Distracted Driving. Regulation and Education to Avert Traffic Injuries and Fatalities. JAMA, 303(14): 1419-1420. Klauer, S., Guo, F., Simons-Morton, B., Ouimet, M., Lee, S., & Dingus, T. (2014). Distracted Driving and Risk of Road Crashes among Novice and Experienced Drivers. The New England Journal of Medicine, 370: 54-59. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa1204142. Read More