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| Yes | 69% | 3491 votes | Total: 5088 votes | |
| No | 31% | 1597 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesI live in Victoria, Australia where it is against the law to use a cell phone whilst driving. I totally agree with the law and am happy to see more and more people who are actually obeying it and pulling over to the side of the road to take or make calls.
Why do I so wholeheartedly agree? Because one of my friends was using her phone on a car trip with her mum. She lost concentration on the road for about 10 seconds, drove off the road and into a ditch, flipping the car. Her mum was thrown from the vehicle and pinned under it dying almost immediately.
My friend has had to deal with the senseless death of her mum at such a young age (my friend was only 20 at the time, her mum was 41) all the while blaming herself and being blamed by family members. Just because she took a call on her phone whilst she was driving. She was only bruised and scratched on the outside, but on the inside she has been severely scarred, suffering nightmares and depression.
My friend has just had her first baby and is now 25 and still struggling with the memories of that day and living without her mum. Her mum will never see her new grandchild, all because of a 10 second lapse in concentration. A decision to take a phone call that probably wasn't that important anyway.
The amount of people who I still see driving along and talking on their phones, swerving to the wrong side of the road or off the road completely makes me sick. Yet they still keep talking! In the wrong hands your car and your phone can become weapons - that's why we need a license to drive!
So in the meantime even if cellphones aren't banned while driving yet, if the call is really that important to you pull over and take it. Otherwise make use of your voice mail and take the call later. It could save your life, the life of someone you love or even the life of a stranger.
Learn more about this author, Cassie Kristof.
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No
With cell phone use consistently on the rise for the past two decades, there has been increasing controversy over whether or not their use while driving should be banned. The fact that cell phones have been linked with an increase in auto accidents cannot be disputed. However, banning their use is not necessarily the best solution.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, 80% of crashes and 65% of near crashes involve some type of driver distraction. Cell phones are one of many possible distractions. Other distractions include passengers in the vehicle, drowsiness, other drivers on the road, and participating in non-driving activities, such as reading a map or changing stations on the radio.
The answer to the use of cell phones while driving in many cities and states has been to require the use of a hands-free device. There is no evidence to show that this is a safer alternative. Additionally, studies exploring the dangerousness of cell phone use while driving have yielded widely mixed results.
Lawmakers are left with the task of finding an effective solution. The solution is twofold. First, law enforcement officers should be on the lookout for drivers who are distracted to the point of compromising safety. This might include taking ones eyes of the road for an extended period while talking to passengers, swerving while changing radio stations, or tailgating while eating breakfast. Second, cell phone manufacturers should strive to improve safety features on cell phones, such as voice activated commands for dialing and answering the phone.
The reality is that driving is the ultimate multi-tasking activity, and people have a tendency to engage in other distracting behaviors when driving. It is not feasible to ban all distractions. We cannot ban people from talking to passengers in their car or putting a CD into the CD player. This is why it is paramount that individuals who become too distracted are held accountable. Banning cell phone use while driving is a temporary, ineffective solution that may lead to a false sense of safety on the road.
Learn more about this author, Nicolette Romero (nom de plume).
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