by Michael Ray

Created on: April 15, 2009

Many debates have been made, both pro and con, on the use of hands free devices in automobiles. Both sides have good arguments and it would be easy for someone to be confused when making a decision. Todays technological world makes it impossible for some people to conduct business without a cell phone, PDA, notebook computer or some other other electronic device. The problem stems from these same people believing that five minutes of downtime is going to ruin their business. The solution? "We'll just drive over there and work out the details on the way".

There is little difference between using cell phones while driving and eating a hamburger, putting on makeup, or sliding a CD into the player. It comes down to one thing, you're attention is not totally focused on your driving. Driving with a cell phone to your ear is much like hypnotic driving, you're eyes see what's in front of you but your brain doesn't register the objects and actions going on around you. While you may realize that the car in front of you is stopping, the car running the stop sign to your right has gone unnoticed because your mind is not focused.

We've heard it countless times before, drivers who are convinced that talking on a cell phone does not hinder their driving in the least little bit. Perhaps they're right. You'd have to know the driver and note the differences in their driving to come to an informed decision. Yet one fact remains, if you have a cell phone in your hand, only one hand remains on the steering wheel. Too much emphasis is placed on the offensive driving capabilities of those on cell phones, and too little on the defensive side. If you have to make a quick sudden turn, to avoid that driver running through the stop sign, it's almost impossible to do with only one hand on the wheel. We've heard it in drivers education and all through our lives as drivers, "two hands on the wheel at 10 and 2". With both hands on the wheel, one in the 10 o'clock position and the other at 2 o'clock, our ability to steer and guide the car in the direction we want is optimized. I have witnessed drivers who need to make a turn and have to move their cell phone to the other hand to perform the maneuver.

While this argument has focused on a person's ability to talk while driving, we also need to mention other aspects of using a cell phone. Dialing cannot be performed with two hands on the wheel and your focus on the road. While voice dialing is available, how many of us say a number, then look down to see if the phone is dialing? Another common problem is dropped phones. You definately cannot drive while reaching to the floor board or under the seat, again, your hands are off the steering wheel and your eyes are off the road. Do you just leave the phone on the floor? Well, you could but the person on the other end might get a little annoyed wondering what happened!

Remember, most accidents do not develop slowly and give you ample opportunity to avoid them. A split second is all it takes for a car to veer of course and change your world. Keeping both hands on the wheel and your attention focused on the road, and your surroundings, may be the difference in life and death.

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