March 11th, 2010 | 
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Serious Injuries and Fatalities from Auto Collisions have become almost epidemic in the United States. In the last 10 years, the US has had over 500,000 automobile related fatalities. Few of us take the time to ponder the possibility that we are actually operating a potential “lethal weapon”. While DUI and Excessive Speed are statistically the leading cause of fatalities and severe injuries, distractions is third and rising rapidly.
In our fast paced techno society, multi-tasking has progressively worked its way into our normal driving habits. Multi-tasking is considered to be a mixture of things that takes a drivers attention away from the road with Cell Phones (and text messaging) being added to the list in the last decade. Over the last 15 years, younger drivers in particular consider cell phones as an extension of their lives using them at will and for extended periods while driving their cars.
The exact number of collisions caused by drivers distracted using a cell phone is still not clear due to the way data was collected at the scene in the past. However, the current estimate is that Cell Phone Distraction causes about 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the US annually.
Growing statistical data and studies show that a driver’s attention span is severely challenged while talking on a cell phone. More recent studies from the UK clearly indicate that a driver’s reaction time using a cell phone is actually slower than a driver that is legally DUI – even in hands-free mode. Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004 showed that drivers talking on cell phones were 18 percent slower reacting to brake lights, and they also took 17 percent longer to regain the speed once they brake.
There are a growing number of States and countries around the world that have enacted laws limiting or banning cell phone use while driving. At least 49 countries (including most industrialized nations) and 24 States have partial or complete bans on using cell phones while driving.
What do you think? Go to our Blog to take our survey and leave comments for others to read including our State Legislators.
Rick Adams
http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/should-we-limit-or-ban-cell-phones-while-driving-680177.html
Posted in Cell Phones
Does talking on the phone while driving limit your driving skills?
Just until today I got ran off the road by someone who was talking on her cell phone. She switched lanes without checking her mirrors and a brief look over the shoulder to ensure she was changing lanes safely… 3 months ago a lady ran into the back of my car in a traffic jam. She was texting at the moment and did not notice her car was in motion. I always try to avoid talking on the phone, not to mention texting, but recently I tried to DWT ( Drive While Texting) and the experience wasn’t pretty at all. While writing a short text message on my sidekick phone to a friend, I ran a stop light. It happened so fast that I couldn’t avoid it.
What about you: Does talking on the phone limit your driving skills, and do you feel talking on the phone while driving should be banned in all states?
Ask Mike ( an Answers Staff) recently posted a blog regarding DWT.
(Blog)
http://yanswersblog.com/index.php/archives/2008/11/14/ask-mike-driving-while-texting/
Thanks.
Dad
of course it does. That’s why its banned in England (where I’m from). You should never drive while using a phone.
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Anything which distracts one’s concentration from driving techniques is DANGEROUS. I think it should be banned cause I tried talking, driving and watching out for other cars…geez how far does the mind have to stretch for us humans? ~
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I think a little
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Ban all texting & calls across the globe unless, you have a 911.
Prevention, prevention,prevention.
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Yes it seriously impairs your driving ability and numerous countries are banning hand held devices, you will need a hands free kit.
TXTing is downright stupidity to me and I think that should be a far greater crime.
I am surprised the laws are so slow to act on this one after all they have been around for years now.
You just need to look at what else goes on in cars to see that there are numerous other distractions that impede drivers ability.
Men shaving
Women adding make up.
Eating breakfast.
Reading the newspaper etc
With so much traffic on the roads and the peak hour bottle necks, it lulls one into a false sense that nothing can go wrong.
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Yes i think so
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I believe it does. I do not text, nor talk on the phone while driving. Three of my high school friends have died from texting and talking on the phone. Two of them, it wasn’t their fault. Sad stories.
When you text/talk on the phone while driving, you aren’t completely focused on what you should be doing.
A vehicle is considered a deadly weapon. I think the human race has proved that now.
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I was told that it is like driving under the influence. I don’t know about that. I think it can be a distraction. However, I view it as if you are talking to another person in the car. Depends on the driver I’d say.
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Yes, but then, so does tuning in a radio, playing a CD, primping in the mirror, trying to follow written directions, dropping your cigarettes on the floor, rubbernecking, talking to passengers, eating/drinking, calming unruly kids/pets … and on and on.
There are so many things which can distract one’s attention, but life is full of distractions. What we must do is be able to limit such distractions or learn how to handle them when they come along.
Have a SAFE trip!
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