Where Knowledge Rules

Computers & Technology:

Telephones

Debate_icon Get a Widget for this title

Should cell phone use be banned while driving?

Results so far:

Yes
69% 3442 votes Total: 4997 votes
No
31% 1555 votes

It is prudent to think an issue through before making rushed decision about whether something should or shouldn't be banned. In the case of cell phones while driving there are several important considerations supporting the claim they should not be banned.

-Cell phones do have headsets which can be used in vehicles.
-Cell phones could save a family member's life.


-A cell phone equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS), could save you a lot of time and gas money if you are lost.
-Speedy communication aids busy working people in performing their job faster and more efficiently.

These are the reasons cell phones are useful in automobiles and serves as the first set of reasons not to ban them while driving. It also happens to be unethical to ban cell phones while ignoring all the other road hazards that existed long before cell phones. The reason it is unethical is because a ban would appeal to fear more than logic. Logic states there are many contributors to driver negligence which may even be worse than cell phones. Yet these things are not banned. Consider for a moment the following factors.

-Truck drivers have communicated with CB's for decades.
-Drunk Driving/Intoxication has existed for even longer.
-Falling asleep on a long road trip can cause accidents and even death.
-Distraction from eating, drinking, talking with passengers, intimacy, music and smoking while driving is a driving hazard.
-Wild animals such as Moose, Elk, Dear, Squirrels cause accidents.
-Negligent pedestrians can also cause accidents.
-Injuries caused by failing to wear a seat-belt.
-Improper auto up-keep between safety inspections.
-Poor driving habits, offensive driving, driving without license.

www.car-accidents.com provides statistics relating to some of the above causes of accidents, the complete link can be found at the bottom of this page with other links supporting continued use of cell phones. It is only reasonable to consider these other things before jumping to conclusions about one thing while failing to recognize potentially worse dangers on America's and other country's roads. So who is really more dangerous, a pepped up truck driver who is smoking while listening to and talking on his CB and driving to Alaska or a Soccer Mom talking to a babysitter about picking up the kids? Let's look at the statistics:

31.44% of crashes are speeding related (www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov)
7.9% of 2003 fatal auto incidents involved trucks (www.lawcore.com)
11% of accidents in 2000 were caused by alcohol related


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Should cell phone use be banned while driving?

No
  • 1 of 112

    by Scott Wolfe

    I love my cell phone and most people do. Cell phones make it easy to contact our friends and loved ones in case of an emergency.

    read more

  • 2 of 112

    by Justin Baker

    Beloved author C.S. Lewis once stated, "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most

    read more

Yes
  • 1 of 271

    by Bart Ringer

    As a police officer one of my duties is traffic control. Yeah, I'm the guy out there with the white gloves and the whistle

    read more

  • 2 of 271

    by Paul Kerstein

    According to the Insurance Information Institute, more than 236 million people subscribed to cell phone service as of May,

    read more

Add your voice

Know something about Should cell phone use be banned while driving??
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

90551

Featured Partner

The Project on Government Oversight (POGO)

The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is an independent nonprofit that investigates and exposes corruption and o...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA