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A study by the Psychology Department of the University of Utah in 2003 concluded that drivers using cell phones were more dangerous than those intoxicated. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents regards as "unfortunate" the British government's decision not to ban use of hand-free cell phones (or mobile phones, as they are more commonly called in the UK). In 2007 three executives were sent to jail for using cell phones while driving in Mumbai, India.

Why would anyone support the idea that using a cell phone while driving a car is acceptable? Scientific research and popular opinion would both seem to be against it; in this Helium debate two-thirds of the respondents have voted "yes" to cell phones being banned.

Despite the apparent weight of evidence and sentiment against it, many drivers are seen with one hand on the wheel and the other up against their right ear, holding a phone. A survey showed 89% of people thought texting when driving should be banned, and it also revealed that 66% of those surveyed did text and drive. This implies that 77% of drivers participate in actions they consider dangerous.

Such is the power of the cell phone. Its convenience far outweighs consideration of the risks posed by its use, and it is because of this that an effective ban on cell phones will never work. Such bans cannot be easily enforced because they are labor-intensive to police, and cases can be difficult to prove in court. There is a strong argument for saying that law-enforcement agencies are not making good use of their time by focusing on cell phone misuse.

So if a ban on cell phone use when driving is not the way forward, how should the issue be dealt with? And there is an issue - most studies agree that cell phone use is distracting, even when operated in a 'hands-free' environment. Drivers miss exits, drive too slowly, and are generally less aware of what is going on around them. The evidence for this is both anecdotal and scientific.

For drivers, a step forward would be to treat cell phone callers as if they were a passenger in the car. Make them aware of when traffic is being negotiated; be willing to pause the flow of conversation in order to concentrate on the road. This might make negotiation with a client more difficult, and could come across as unprofessional but arguably such calls should not take place on the road at all. Just because it is possible to have complex contract negotiations while driving does not make it right.

Another option is for governments and the motor industry to accept that people like mobile communication and want more, not less. To build hands-free environments into a car as standard would be an improvement, making it easier for the driver to select this option. This, combined with other technologies such as audible and visible proximity alerts, would help the driver to keep both hands on the steering wheel and more focused on the road.

A final argument against the banning of cell phones is that they are only one of multiple distractions for drivers. One or more noisy passengers, the CD-player or iPod, the radio, cigarettes; all of these are possible causes of fatal distraction. While the cell phone has been singled out in legislation, these activities, and others, can be just as dangerous. Anything which causes the driver to not be entirely focused on controlling their vehicle presents a risk.

Sources:

Fatal Distraction: A comparison of the cell-phone driver and the drunk driverUniversity of Utah Psychology Dept.

Mobile Phones and Driving Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

Jail for mobile use in cars DNA

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