| Mobile phone use in motor vehicles has increased | | | | of the ongoing research for, and by, the National |
| at a remarkable rate over the past 15 years. Yet | | | | Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( we should |
| it is undeniable that utilizing a cell phone while | | | | at least consider their policy on using cell phones |
| driving can affect driver performance as it relates | | | | while driving that states "The primary |
| to the overall safe operation of a vehicle. There | | | | responsibility of the driver is to operate a motor |
| are a number of things to consider in deciding | | | | vehicle safely. The task of driving requires full |
| whether the trade off in convenience is worth the | | | | attention and focus. Cell phone use can distract |
| potential risks associated with the distraction | | | | drivers from this task, risking harm to themselves |
| created by a cell phone. Given the fact that the | | | | and others. Therefore, the safest course of |
| individual driver (and/or business owner) ultimately | | | | action is to refrain from using a cell phone while |
| pays for the resulting consequences associated | | | | driving."Source: Cellular Telecommunications & |
| with an auto or truck accident (financial, emotional | | | | Internet Association (CTIA)According to the |
| and physical lose); it is prudent to seek out | | | | CTIA, there are currently more than 218 million |
| relevant and reliable information in making a | | | | subscribed cell phone users as of August 2006 |
| decision. In doing so, consider the source, as well | | | | (compared to some 4.3 million in 1990). Based on |
| as the possible motivation behind the information | | | | the extraordinary growth of cellular phone |
| provider.Source: US LegislationIn the United | | | | industry and the CTIA's advisory role, it may be |
| States, there are currently no federal laws | | | | of value to think about their point of view on this |
| prohibiting driving while using a cell phone. In an | | | | topic. In doing so, you might consider a document |
| earnest attempt to find a solution, some states | | | | found on the CTIA's web site, entitled |
| (New Jersey, New York, the District of Columbia, | | | | "SafeDrivingTalkingPoints2" (created June 6, 2006) |
| Connecticut and pending in California) have passed | | | | that states "But for some reason, legislative |
| laws barring hand-held cell phone use while driving. | | | | efforts to prevent driver distractions have been |
| Typical fines range from $50 to $100 for drivers | | | | narrowly focused on wireless phone use. |
| caught using a hand-held device. While these | | | | According to government statistics and respected |
| lawmakers have the public's best interest at heart | | | | research studies, this approach is well off point." |
| by levying fines, not all entities weighing in on this | | | | Consider that, there are more than 220 million |
| subject are likely to have the same | | | | vehicles on the road and a similar number of cell |
| incentive.Source: Manufacturer ResearchAs the | | | | phones subscribers. Based on the amount of time |
| result of an independent study (found on their | | | | customers might potentially spend using their cell |
| web site in the form of a press release), | | | | phones in vehicles, we would hope to find the |
| Plantronics, a manufacturer of headsets states, | | | | CTIA an objective source. Given the magnitude |
| "71% of drivers steer more accurately when | | | | of the revenue at stake, is a greater degree of |
| using a headset with a mobile phone". They point | | | | scrutiny in order here? Would the CTIA hold a |
| out that the study was to discover if a person | | | | different position if they were liable, in part, for |
| using a mobile phone improves driving if he or she | | | | distracted vehicle accidents?Source: Leading |
| uses a headset. Stephen Wilcox, Ph.D., Principal of | | | | Universities & Independent ResearchersWhile |
| Design Science (independent research firm) | | | | there are a number of valuable studies on this |
| states, "Driving with both hands on the wheel is | | | | subject, the following are extensive research |
| the safest option for motorists who use mobile | | | | projects provided by highly accredited |
| phones, and headsets are tools to enable that | | | | organizations:1) Virginia Tech Transportation |
| improvement." Considering the source, is this | | | | Institute researchers and the National Highway |
| statement characteristic of scientific research? Is | | | | Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tracked |
| it objective and free of marketing bias? Could it | | | | 100 cars and their drivers for a year; they |
| confuse individuals into thinking that cell phones | | | | discovered that talking on cell phones caused |
| are safe as long as you are hands-free? | | | | more crashes, near-crashes and other incidents |
| Additionally, found toward the end of the press | | | | than other distractions (100-Car Naturalistic Driving |
| release, is a comment by a senior director of | | | | Study, April 2006).2) University of Utah |
| product marketing. Beth Johnson states, "It's | | | | researchers determined that motorists on the |
| important to keep in mind that our study is not | | | | blood-alcohol threshold of being legally drunk were |
| intended to address the issue of whether or not it | | | | able to drive better than sober cell phone using |
| is safe to talk on a mobile phone while driving, but | | | | drivers. A key researcher and author in this field, |
| rather what type of technology is safest for | | | | Psychology Professor David Strayer notes, "Just |
| drivers to use while talking on their mobile | | | | like you put yourself and other people at risk |
| phones". They also state their intent is to | | | | when you drive drunk, you put yourself and |
| "educate drivers on options for using mobile | | | | others at risk when you use a cell phone and |
| phones comfortably and responsibly while driving". | | | | drive. The level of impairment is very similar." |
| Given that the goal is safety education, is this | | | | Also, consider they found motorists to be more |
| research responsibly comprehensive to consider it | | | | accident-prone and slower to react when talking |
| a relevant and reliable source?Surely, as you go | | | | on cellular telephones. It did not matter if it was |
| about your own assessment the idea of freeing | | | | hands-free either because of "inattention |
| up both hands to control the steering wheel is a | | | | blindness", a syndrome that makes a driver less |
| logical consideration. If a driver focuses exclusively | | | | able to process visual information.3) The George |
| on driving the vehicle, then two hands on the | | | | Institute for International Health (University of |
| wheel is better than one. Unfortunately, this | | | | Sydney, Australia), Insurance Institute for |
| seemingly sensible approach can lead to a false | | | | Highway Safety (Arlington, Virginia) and Injury |
| sense of driver security (possibly increasing crash | | | | Research Centre, University of Western Australia |
| risk) as noted in various reports ( by the Crash | | | | (Crawley Australia) jointly presented research |
| Investigation Team at Virginia Commonwealth | | | | entitled "Role of mobile phones in motor vehicle |
| University Center for Public Safety. Their findings | | | | crashes resulting in hospital attendance: a |
| illustrated that the cognitive resources required to | | | | case-crossover study". The research consisted of |
| carry on a phone conversation are equivalent to | | | | 456 drivers aged 17 years who owned or used |
| those necessary to drive. This is an important | | | | mobile phones and had been involved in road |
| concern given VCU's history of transportation | | | | crashes requiring hospital attendance between |
| safety research, as well as other studies | | | | April 2002 and July 2004. They concluded that a |
| concluding this behavior (carrying on a phone | | | | driver who uses a mobile phone (up to 10 minutes |
| conversation while driving), reduces both driver | | | | prior to a crash) has a four times higher likelihood |
| reaction time and driver attentiveness, especially | | | | of crashing and an increased likelihood of a crash |
| as they relate to braking.Unlike a computer, | | | | resulting in injury. Using a hands-free phone is not |
| humans have a limited capacity to process | | | | any safer.Eliminate the Risk & Keep the BenefitsIf |
| simultaneous information. If the software on your | | | | you are the head of a household, a guardian or |
| computer seems to slow down, you might | | | | the parent of a less experienced driver, your |
| consider increasing the memory or processor | | | | decision to allow any in-vehicle cell phone use |
| speed to compensate for delays resulting from an | | | | carries a major emotional and financial risk. If you |
| overload in computing capacity. We as humans | | | | are a fleet manager or you employ individuals that |
| have a similar limitation when it comes to | | | | conduct work-related conversations while driving, |
| processing too much information, but unlike | | | | the risk of liability for distracted accidents could fall |
| computers, our resources are somewhat fixed. | | | | on you. Strongly consider the legal ramifications |
| Given the inherent delays in our own thought | | | | for the careless operation of an employee-owned |
| response time when faced with increased load | | | | or company-supplied vehicle before deciding to |
| factors, is it practical or safe to hold a cell phone | | | | ignore the inherent danger created by a major |
| conversation while driving a motor vehicle?Source: | | | | cognitive distraction such as a cell phone.Obviously, |
| Government Transportation Safety ResearchThe | | | | there are no easy or certain solutions without |
| US government employs many of the top | | | | sacrifice of convenience. Remember that the |
| transportation safety experts and funds a major | | | | benefit of having a cell phone (emergency use |
| portion of the world's accident prevention | | | | and times when you are not operating a vehicle) |
| research. Given the effects traffic accidents and | | | | is not lost just because it remains off while driving. |
| related congestion have on US productivity, | | | | If you consider the facts presented by relevant |
| accident reduction is a top priority. Considering | | | | and reliable sources, it really is not a matter of a |
| that distracted driving accounted for at least 6.4 | | | | trade off after all, but an opportunity to prevent |
| percent of crash fatalities in 2004 (U.S. | | | | an accident or possibly a fatality. In the mean |
| Department of Transportation), many | | | | time, until it is proven otherwise, think about |
| researchers are looking closely at the distinguishing | | | | instigating a life saving strategy NOW for the safe |
| distraction caused by cell phone use in vehicles. | | | | use of cell phones - limit yourself, loved ones and |
| Furthermore, of the many potential distractions in | | | | employees to use (personal and business) only |
| a vehicle, cell phones are considered equally or | | | | when the vehicle is in park!Gary S. Rothstein is the |
| more dangerous than the other known | | | | President of Mobile Awareness, a company which |
| distractions such as eating, reading a map or | | | | designs and markets vehicle safety products. |
| grooming while operating a motor vehicle. In light | | | | |