Using Cell Phones While Driving - Term Paper Example

? Problem ment The use of cell phones while driving continues to be debated among public officials, those who are trying to maintain safety while driving and the general public. According to a new survey (Britt, 2005), those between the age of 20-30 use cell phones continuously while driving to a specific place. It is noted that the cell phone disturbance while driving has led to 2600 deaths and 330,000 injuries. The danger of cell phones is also reported to change response times, leading to more accents and the inability for those on the road to remain safe. According to the same survey (Britt, 2005), those driving and talking on cell phones responded slower to brake lights by an average of 18% and 17% took a longer time to regain speed after braking for a light. It has also been noted that the hands free cell phones cause the same, slower responses among those that are driving and don’t lead to safe roads that can be driven on (Britt, 2005). The problem with using a cell phone while driving is now not only applicable to talking to others while on the road. Text messages, adding in music and the distractions from the cell phone are all adding into problems that are associated with those who are driving on the road and that are multi-tasking while driving. To change this, there are new laws that are trying to be passed, specifically because of the adverse effects which this has. However, the laws and the regulations by officials have not changed the number of individuals that use a cell phone on the road for any purpose, leading to more danger to those that are on the road and continuing to lead to accidents because of the lack of bans that are reinforced by officials (GHSA, 2011). Relationship of Cause and Effect The cause of using cell phones while driving is considered because of the association with needing to talk to others, communicate or update individuals while on the road. Often, this may be related to business, personal affairs or other applications that need to be cared for with the busy lives that most lead. The causes may also be inclusive of individuals feeling that there is a sense of safety while driving and using a cell phone, specifically because there are several others who are using cell phones and which continue to add into the pressures of talking and driving at the same time. The use of cell phones on the road is one which may be more applicable while waiting at a stop light, going through slower traffic or driving through roads which are already known to those that are driving (Strayer, 2001). The cause of using cell phones while driving among the age group of 20-30, which is known as more likely to use phones while driving, is most likely specific to the need to communicate with friends, family or the work that one is involved in. The hectic lives that most lead at this age make the driving time the easiest to catch up with the communication that is needed. The knowledge of the road and the ability to multi-task while driving is one of the ways that most in this age group are trained, specifically with the understanding that doing more than one thing at a time is acceptable. The rise in technology has led to the behavior of multi-tasking and makes the cell phone use while driving natural. Even though there may be a natural tendency to use cell phones while driving because of the multitasking which takes place, there are also other variables which are considered with this. The effects which occur lead to being over stimulated in specific conditions. If one is driving on a road that doesn’t have as much traffic or which doesn’t require as much attention, then the cell phone speaking may seem applicable. However, extra stimulations and interference from other coming traffic, changes in the road and the consequences of paying more attention to the phone than the road lead to the crashes and injuries that have been reported. The effect is from the stimulation that occurs which doesn’t allow one to respond quickly enough when speaking on a cell phone, showing that the multitasking is limited and costs in the driving performance of those who are on the road (Horrey, 2006). Hypothesis Those who are between the ages of 20-30 will be examined with the use of cell phones while driving through a side street that is usually not busy. It is expected that the majority of those who are going through the street will be adjusting music, text messaging or talking on cell phones. The majority will consist of over 50% of those who are examined. The examination will take place during two times on the same street. The first will be on Sunday afternoon when the street has fewer people and is considered slow, between the times of 1-3 PM. The second examination will occur between 4-6 PM on a Friday afternoon, which is considered a time of rush traffic. These times will be compared in defining how often one uses a cell phone, texting or adjusts the music while driving on this road with the belief that there isn’t a difference between time frames and over 50% of the demographic age will continuously use the cell phones, despite regulations. The observation of how often the cell phones are used will be combined with the response times that are known from others. The response times will be observed through the stop light that is on the side street. There is an expected response time of beginning to go through the stop light or stopping. The observation will be of those using the cell phones and how long it takes to stop or start, as compared to those who aren’t using cell phones. It is expected that the observations will show a slower response time to this particular application, specifically because of the past research which indicates that having the extra stimulus of the cell phones creates a prolonged response from those who are driving. Methodology The methodology used will consist of observing individuals driving on a side street to a given location. The observation will take place in front of a street light with 2 hour increments for those that are driving through the area. The street light will be examined during a Friday afternoon during a rush hour time and during a Sunday afternoon, which is considered as a time that is slower for driving. There will be data collected on the demographics, how many people are using their cell phone, what the cell phone is being used for (text, talking, music) and what the response times are for going and stopping during these times because of the extra stimulus. There will also be a comparison between times to see when the height of using cell phones is and whether it makes a difference with the amount of traffic on the street. Results The results indicate that the use of cell phones doesn’t change during time and is significantly over 50% for all age groups. An average of 100 cars were observed during the time frames. The age groups which were determined were from 20-30; however, there were also observations of those using cell phones that were likely between the ages of 31-50. Both age groups consisted of a significant amount that was using cell phones while driving. The age group of 20-30 consisted of 73% using cell phones while driving and the age group of 31-50 consisted of 62% using cell phones while driving as seen in the chart below. This was a combination of both times observed. Chart 1: Demographic Groups and Cell Phone Use It was noted that there was a difference between the times when the cell phones were used and when they weren’t used. However, it was also found that there were more individuals that were using their cell phones during the rush hour time, specifically between Friday from 4-6, specifically with 57% of those observed using their cell phones. Those who were driving on Sunday tended to use the cell phones less, with an average of 32% using the phones. Another difference was based on the type of cell phone use which was taking place. On average, 52% were using the phone for talking, 37% were text messaging and 11% were using this for music changing, usually which occurred at the stop light, as seen in chart 2. Chart 2: Types of Cell Phone Use The last component was the delay time that was used when the individuals were stopping or starting from the stop light. This particular observation didn’t have timing, specifically because of the lack of available equipment. However, it was noted in general that those who were texting or talking on a cell phone would focus specifically on the phone through a stop light, than begin to look up as a distraction when the light turned green. Those who were not using the cell phone tended to take off faster when the light turned green and didn’t have the distractions of the technology that was in the cars. Discussion There are several factors which can be seen with this particular behavior and what was occurring. The first significant part was the demographics, specifically which didn’t change according to age group. There were a large number of individuals using their cell phones between the ages of 20-50 while they were driving. While the demographic factors may have been altered according to location, this shows that the cell phone is now important for almost everyone who is on the road. This also indicates that there may be several reasons for using the phone. Since the concept of using cell phones while driving is supposed to be illegal, this also indicates that there is an urgency or need that each of the individuals has to talk, specifically when in an area where it seems more isolated and in which the individuals can’t be found. The indications on human behavior move beyond the basic safety measures and into the cognitive reasoning which is associated with driving and using a cell phone at the same time. There is cognitive reasoning that justifies using the cell phone while driving, with the belief that an accident may not happen to the individual. There are also justifications that move against the legalities that are a part of the use of cell phones, specifically with many who may believe that this won’t be reinforced. The cognitive reasoning moves to several justifications which may make several believe that they can speak on the cell phone and that it won’t affect driver performance or cognitive responses (Lamble, 1999). The second aspect which can be analyzed with the cognitive reasoning is based on the time when the cell phones were used as well as how the phone was being used. The important aspect of this was based on the number of people that were using the cell phones on Friday, as opposed to those using it on a Sunday. This is indicative of the culture, specifically because the rush time during traffic also is a rush time for individuals to get in touch with others, complete the work that is necessary and to find different ways to communicate with others about events either for the weekend or for work or family. This indicates that the use of cell phones is one which is justified with the human behaviors, specifically because it shows a relationship to the needs of the individual to plan, implement and to control what may happen after an individual drives. It can be assumed that many aren’t thinking about driving while they are on the road, but instead are considering events that have happened or which need to happen during the rush time. When Sunday was observed, the actions required are not as much, with the hectic schedules not interfering to the same level as on a Friday afternoon. This specific observation is not only important in the indication of when cell phones are used. More important, there is an understanding that human behavior doesn’t change from being on the work week and going through multitasking within a given environment to multitasking on the road. The switching of the environment doesn’t alter, with many holding to the belief that different initiatives have to be taken while on the road to continue the movement from the work week. Instead of thinking about safety, most of the human behaviors are geared toward continuing the events and keeping the pace and behavior performed in other environmental areas while planning ahead for the expectations. While this may alter when one is relaxed, such as on the Sunday driving, there are other indicators that show environmental change and the pace which most are expected to keep continues with the use of cell phones while driving (Eagle, 2006). The last indicator that is associated with the results is based on the type of cell phone use which was taking place among those that were driving. The majority of individuals were talking to others, while the others were using text messaging, specifically with an increase in the use of texting when there was a stop light. This shows that the main consideration is talking to others, planning and taking initiative to connect to others while on the road. There are also indicators that, despite the laws for those using cell phones for speaking, this is the main way in which most are considering the use of cell phones. This could also indicate that individuals connecting to those on the road that are not driving are calling while the individual is on the road and in which the individual feels the need to respond to, as opposed to some taking the initiative to make the calls. There are several questions which apply to the type of cell phone behavior which is used; however, it can be noted that each of the behaviors is a response to circumstances and the need which many have to make a call or connect to others that are on the road. The simulated driving that is shown through the type of driving is one which shows that those who are on the road are going through behavioral changes that lead to immediate responses. The stimulation of the cell phone being in the car and the need to react is a part of the human behavior. This is related directly to those that are on the road and are driving with the need to react cognitively to different situations which may arise. The need to pick up the cell phone, communicate with others and to respond immediately is the main behavior that is indicated and which doesn’t allow one to think about safety, but instead to unconsciously respond to the situation that is occurring at the moment (Lee, 2004). According to the hypothesis, there is a showing that the need to use cell phones as a response to the environment is the main indicator of using phones on the road. More important, there is an understanding that behavior change can’t be reinforced through policies or education about safety. Instead, there needs to be an alteration with the expected responses, stimulus that is in the car and the expectations of those that are on the road. Creating alternatives that will help with the safety of those that are on the road while changing behaviors of responding to the cell phones and the behaviors will help with the changes, as opposed to trying to reinforce policies which can’t be maintained by officials. This study shows that the need to create behavior change has to move beyond education and the laws, and instead needs to be altered according to the available stimulus and responses that are a part of driving. For instance, the use of wireless phones was expected to change the stimulus and responses; however, it isn’t altering the overall behaviors of those in the phone (Hancock, 2003). This indicates that new initiatives need to be taken for those that are driving to change the cognitive reasoning and overall behaviors taken while driving. Conclusion The human behaviors that are seen from those are driving shows that there are several complexities in trying to change the stimulus of cell phones while one is on the road. This particular observation shows that the urge and need to talk on cell phones takes precedence over safety and illegal measures that are a part of society. This shows that human behavior is based on the expectations within an environment, need to respond in a specific way and cognitive reasoning that may justify speaking on a cell phone while driving. The significant number of people in this study that were driving and talking on a cell phone indicates that most accept this human behavior, despite the dangers known. References Britt, Robert. (2005). “Drivers on Cell Phones Kill Thousands, Snarl Traffic.” Live Science. Eagle, N. (2006). “Reality Mining: Sensing Complex Social Systems.” Personal Computing 5 (17). GHSA. (2011). “Cell Phone and Texting Laws.” Governors Highway Safety Association. Retrieved from: http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html. Hancock, PA. (2003). “The Distraction of Phone Use During a Crucial Driving Maneuver.” Accident analysis and Prevention 14 (3). Horrey, WJ. (2006). “Examining the Impact of Cell Phone Conversations on Driving.” Human Factors: The Journal of Social Psychology 14 (7). Lamble, D, T Kaurenen, M Laakso. (1999). « Cognitive Load Detection and Thresholds in Car Following Situations. » Accident Analysis and Retrieval 5 (17). Strayer, DL. (2001). “Driven to Distraction: Dual Task Studies of Stimulated Driving and Conversing on a Cellular Phone.” Psychosocial Science 5 (4). Lee, JD. (2004). “Preface to the Special Section on Driver Distraction.” Human Factors 15 (4). Read More