by Daniel Cloud

Created on: April 11, 2011

The best way to examine the danger of any distraction in a car while driving is to benchmark it against driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Driving safety is of utmost importance for the safety of yourself, passengers, pedestrians, and others on the road. There is no argument that poisonous substances affect the mind and cause loss of motor skills, concentration, and reaction time. What is debatable is how much a cell phone affects motor skills, concentration, and reaction time.

Considering people generally talk if passengers are present, it is hard to really say talking on a cell phone is a danger. As long as your eyes are on the road, then a conversation with a passenger or with someone on the phone is negligible. The only drawback is you are holding the phone with one hand. However, many people drive with a single hand anyway. A cell phone can also be put on speaker  keeping both hands free.

It is necessary to establish what dangers lie within in a cellphone that do not involve a simple conversation. The act of looking at the phone for a second is comparable to the act of glancing at a landmark outside the window or a woman trying to apply lipstick while driving. Minimal distraction of driving occurs with the cell phone's main function.

The dangers of cell phones lie in the extra features available. Text messages are of great concern as people try to type messages as they navigate the road. Many states have made texting while driving an offense punishable by a large fine. While texting, a driver is quite distracted, looking up and down, or side-to-side trying to type and watch the road. Reaction time is hampered in a fashion similar to driving while intoxicated.

Trying to take pictures while driving is another problem. While you are pressing buttons and selecting photo options, you put yourself and other at risk. Then when you hold up the phone to take a picture, particularly of yourself, you are not paying attention to your driving as much as you are your pose for the picture.

Games are less of a problem, generally due to the fact that you usually cannot look away from the screen while playing. However, suppose someone is playing some online poker while driving. They may be able to watch the road, but they will constantly be looking down, watching the moves of other players, and then dedicating some time to playing their own poker hand. Luckily for other drivers on the road, playing games while driving is something most people are smart enough to avoid.

The last danger of a cell phone lies in trying to configure applications, settings, or navigate menus. The end result of this is similar to texting. The driver is looking up and down rather than watching the road at all times. Cell phones have become the newest danger regarding how safely a driver can operate his or her vehicle.

Certain laws are in place, some jurisdictions completely banning any use, even talking. The problem is not that a person cannot be trusted to use the phone while driving, but that there may be more of a distraction of driving abilities than the person realizes. There is no single solution. It can be debated if cell phone usage is so bad that it should be punished with a ticket. It is up to individual towns, counties, and states to make the decision of passing laws banning or allowing usage of cell phones.

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