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| Yes | 76% | 478 votes | Total: 628 votes | |
| No | 24% | 150 votes |
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Add to FavoritesA driver speaking on a cell phone poses a serious danger to him or herself as well as to other road users. Using a hands-free device may reduce the danger posed. Hands-free devices reduce the risks significantly and should be compulsory for drivers that use cell phones while driving.
Many drivers are aware of the danger of speaking on a cell-phone when driving. However, a ringing phone presents an irresistible to the driver to answer. Many are simply are unable to allow a ringing phone ring unanswered.
Some drivers are the totally unaware of the dangers. They are not only are they able to conduct a full conversation on their hand-held phone while driving, but are able to read, write, send text messages and smoke at the same time. These are people that believe that they the ability to multi-task.
The problem with multitasking is that 60% of the attention goes to the call leaving only 40% to the driving. Have you ever tried to conduct a conversation with a multitasker who is busy completing contracts or marking exams?
Driving while talking on a cell phone presents a number of problems. The first is that one hand is occupied holding the phone to the ear. The other hand has the responsibility of steering, changing gears and signalling. As soon as a slightly complex manoeuvre is required, the elbow or knee has to replace the hand.
The physical constraint is not the only danger. Conducting a conversation over a phone draws our attention away from the driving towards the conversation.
Minimum driver reaction times are roughly one second. This reaction time is increased - multiplied - by fatigue, alcohol and drugs even in minimal quantities. At 120 KM per hour a car travels 33.3 meters per second. In three seconds the car travels 100 meters. A cell-phone presents a similar danger and slows reaction times dramatically.
Interes tingly, conversations with passengers in the car have been demonstrated to slow reaction times. But an in-car conversation can pause when hazardous conditions occur or maneuvers are required. The passenger is aware of the situation on the road and will tolerate a pause for a maneuver. The person at the other end of the cell-phone conversation has no idea of the driving conditions a pause is not possible. Poor signal quality may demand extra attention from the driver to follow the conversation.
The danger is at its worst when these elements are combined. The driver's attention is elsewhere and only one hand is available to manage to vehicle.
Hands-free devices do not totally solve the problem. The driver may still be distracted, but will at least have two hands available to control the vehicle. Although illegal to use a hand held cell-phone while driving in many countries, thousands continue to talk and drive. It will never be possible to ban cell phones from cars, but a mandatory hands-free kit in every vehicle would go a long way towards reducing this problem.
Which brings us to the next problem. Shouldn't all cell-phones be able to connect to a standard hands-free device in a car?
Learn more about this author, Barry Marcus.
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No
Governments around the globe are worried about drivers who pay excessive attention to cell phones while driving, and that is why most of them have decided to ban hand held cell phone communication while driving; however, headsets, car-kits, and cases are a few of the vast amount of devices and assortments available for drivers who are tired of carrying the cell phone while driving or just concerned about the penalty for use it behind the wheel. So, few States are talking of stepping forward and enforce the use of hands free devices, so each driver, who owns a cell phone, will be required to have one.
I believe that whereas having a hands free device is most of the times of great help, especially if you drive a stick shift vehicle, it should be up to the driver to decide whether to put something on his/her head, ear, or just scream at the phone on the dashboard. It is simply a matter of comfort having your hands free, but I am so used to drive while speaking on the phone, that I do not need that help. I used to have a headset but I grew tired of it soon since it made my head and ear hurt. So, my wife got me a new one, with extra cushion. Although it was great at the beginning, I had one more thing to be worried about every morning before work. So it was my phone, suitcase, company card, keys and "the thing" which I accidentally had brought into the house the night before.
One day when driving back from work I received a call and I was not able to find the headset, so after I almost dive into the ditch, I had to pull over and look into the back seat and under the front seats, until I realized that I had pulled over and I could just pick up and talk. I decided that I would not need "the thing" any longer. I concluded that the decision should be up to me, if I want to pull over to speak, great, if I am responsible enough to handle the phone and tell the caller that I will call back once I get home, even better. I usually face heavy traffic everyday, so, under the new law, I would be forced to use the hands free device, which I hate, in the middle of an already unpleasant situation.
California is the first State to pass a bill which became law on the issue of driving with both hands and to enforce hands-free devices while driving. This is the strictest approach to contribute with safety in the roads; however, drivers are allowed to handle the phone in case of emergency. I believe that it should be an option to the driver, not a rule, and all drivers should be held accountable for the way the use cell phones while driving. If a driver needs to make a U turn, for instance, while on the phone and causes an accident, common law, should make an example and punish the irresponsible driver, but overall, this was the driver's choice. It is a matter of giving responsibility to the driver, not treating them like a 12 years old kid.
If the problem is that we need two hands to drive then people should not be able to carry iPods, Mp3, remote controls for the Cd player, etc. I believe that enforcing such law is ridiculous. People need to be accountable for what they do and how they do it.
Currently, 14 countries in Europe have a ban on hand-held cell phones while driving, encouraging drivers to use hands free devices or pull over to speak; however, no proposal has been put forward to make this choice a rule. I have talked to friends in Germany and Italy and although it is banned to use the cell phone while driving, the police will not fine them if there is rush hour and they get a call while stuck in traffic. So I think that flexibility from the authorities is important, too many laws just bring more stress into our already technological complex lives.
Learn more about this author, Javier Luque.
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