Cellular Phone Usage in the Car - Research Paper Example

According to Salvucci & Macuga (2001) “Driving is a highly complex skill that requires the continual integration of interdependent perceptual, motor, and cognitive processes”. With time, driving becomes a routine activity, and an individual is able to perform secondary tasks like switching on the defogger or adjusting the headlights. With technological advances, sophisticated devices in the vehicle do interfere with driver’s attention. Driver distraction has been established as the cause of approximately 25-30 percent of the injuries in car crash, as per a study published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (Utter, 2001 cited by Tseng, Nguyen, Liebowitz, & Agresti, 2005). The use of cellular phones while driving has been established as the major cause of driver inattention. The Harvard Center for Risk Analysis found that use of cell phones while driving caused 330,000 moderate to severe injuries and approximately 2,600 deaths each year (Sundeen, 2003 cited by Tseng et al., 2005). At the same time, according to Brookhuis, de Vries, & de Waard (1991), while talking on the cell phone drivers demonstrated decreased lane deviations (cited by Horrey & Wickens, 2004). Despite these inconsistencies, a total ban of cellular phone usage while operating a motor vehicle may drastically reduce road accidents. Driver distraction can be classified into two types (internal distraction and external stimuli) and four categories – visual, cognitive, auditory and biomechanical distraction. Of these, auditory distraction is associated with cell phone usage (Tseng et al., 2005). This is more likely in case of hand-held phones but other studies demonstrate that primary cause of inattention is cognitive, which implies that even hands-free phones are equally dangerous (Horrey & Wickens). Several studies have been conducted and on an average, it has been found that drivers talking on the mobile phones while driving have higher risks in car accidents compared to non-mobile phone users (Laberge-Nadeau et al., 2003; Wilson et al., 2003; Redelmeier and Tibshirani, 1997; Strayer and Drews, 2004 cited Tseng et al.). Use of mobile phones while driving increases the risk of collisions by four times, which is also confirmed by Redelmeier and Tibshirani (1997). In addition, frequent mobile phone users had relatively higher risk than rare-users. Being engaged on the cell phone while driving, is definitely more risky than listening to the radio or talking to other passengers while driving. Horrey & Wickens, through meta-analysis conducted, concluded that depending upon the response time, different hazards can occur due to talking on the cell phone while driving. For instance lane keeping and hazard response depends on ambient and focal vision. They also found that the driving performance in hands held phones and hands-free devices do not differ. This confirms that the manual activity of holding the phone is not important. What matters is the cognitive aspect. Based on the police crash report, Redelmeier and Tibshirani (1997) analyzed that cellular telephone use is more common in urban areas. Tulsa and Oklahoma counties account for 60% of crashes caused due to use of cell phone in 1993 and 51% in 1994. Thirty-two of the 77 counties in Oklahoma, reported crashes due to use of cell phones in both 1993 and 1994. Their study revealed that younger drivers had significantly higher risk of collision than the older drivers. Hands-free units were not any safer than the hand-held units were. Contrary to what Brookhuis, de Vries, & de Waard found, investigations conducted in 1997 by the Japan Safe Driving Centre demonstrated that use of hand-held cellular telephone (HHS) affected the drivers’ reaction times, scanning ability and lane-keeping performance (Tokunaga, Shimojo, Hagiwara, Kagaya, & Uchida, n.d.). Esbjörnsson and Juhlin (n.d.), cite that crash data analysis suggests that it is the conversation that affects driving more than handling the phone. Not all communication tasks interfere with driving (Vollrath & Totzke, n.d.). Visual information processing definitely decreases driving performance. While everyone knows that many accidents are caused by cellular phone usage while driving, finding accurate assessment of its scope has been a challenging task. Redelmeier & Tibshirani cite several reasons for this. For one, many minor accidents go unreported and the proper documentation that these are caused due to cell phone usage would be difficult to prove. Secondly, it is impossible to prevent the driver from talking to passengers while driving. In which case, it would be equally impossible to ban the use of hands-free cell phones while driving. Thirdly, use of cell phone while driving creates the same hazard as driving under intoxication. According to Redelmeier, D.A. and Tibshirani, R.J. (1997), the current road use regulations on road driving are insufficient to combat the problem. Some bans only prohibit hand held device’s while others prohibit even hands - free phones, which are particularly used by teenagers or school bus drivers. Imposing these bans have not been found to reduce accidents caused by cellular usage because these drivers whether using a hands-free kit on their cellular phone, still lose concentration while driving. They did not find any safety advantage of the hands-free over the hand-held device. Besides, cell phones allow drivers to make emergency calls. Hence, Redelmeier and Tibshirani (1997), suggest that it is important to have a better understanding of the nature and magnitude of any road safety problem rather than restricting cell phone usage while operating a motor vehicle. An in-vehicle information system or a driver assistance system could reduce road accidents. Banning their usage may only be a partial solution. Banning of hands-free phones will not affect the safety as conversation affects driving rather than handling of the phone. Violanti (1997) says that we should address the issue of banning the cell phone usage while driving because drivers are likely to lose concentration, thereby causing an accident. Other sources also confirm the issue of banning cell phone usage while operating motor vehicle, as they are known to cause road accidents. Alm and Nilsson (1995), agree with Redelmeier & Tibshirani that using the cell phone while driving carries the same risk as driving while drunk. The source is similar to the other sources used in this paper as it highlights the consequences of using cellular phone while driving. It advocates for total ban of using cellular phone while operating a motor vehicle. All research and studies have limitations as not all drivers consent to participate, contend Alm & Nilsson. Secondly, people vary in their driving behaviour day to day. The hazards in talking on the cell phone while driving, is shared by others apart from the drivers clarify Redelmeier & Tibshirani. Firstly, other drivers on the road may be inconvenienced as they may be held up in traffic jams while someone else makes a call. Secondly, passengers and pedestrians share an equal amount of risk to life. In Ontario, statistics quoted by Redelmeier & Tibshirani reveal that for every 10 drivers who met with fatal accidents, there were 5 passengers and 2 pedestrians also killed. Despite claims by the researchers and scientists that the studies have draw backs and limitations, it is amply demonstrated by the studies across the world that there is a link between usage of mobile phones and driving. Even the use of hands-free sets do not add to the safety level; it is communication that matters rather than holding a phone in hand. Cognitive distraction plays a greater role in attention than the auditory factor. Talking to a co-passenger in the car may not be as distractive as the conversation over the cell phone. Besides, poor driving imposes a risk on passengers and pedestrians as well part from inconveniencing other drivers. Drivers using a cell phone while driving are distinctly at a high risk for motor vehicle collision. There may be claims of the advantages of just carrying a cell phone in the car, but the government regulation should at least impose a total ban on using it while driving. No matter how brief the calls are, distraction or inattention even for a brief second can be hazardous. A total ban on usage of cell phones while driving is necessary to avoid road accidents, deaths, disabilities, and property damage related to vehicle collisions. References: Alm, H., & Nilsson, L. (1995): The Effects of a Mobile Telephone Task on Driver Behavior in a Car Following Situation. Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol. 27 (5), pp. 707-715 Esbjörnsson, M. & Juhlin, O. (n.d.), Combining mobile phone conversations and driving - studying a mundane activity in its naturalistic setting, The Mobility Studio, Interactive Institute, 19 Aug 2006 Horrey, W. J. & Wickens, C.D. (2004), The Impact of Cell Phone Conversations on Driving: A Meta-Analytic Approach, 19 Aug 2006 Redelmeier, D.A. & Tibshirani, R.J. (1997): Association Between Cellular Telephones Calls and Motor Vehicle Collisions. The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 336 (2), pp. 453-458 Salvucci, D.D. & Macuga, K.L. (2001), Predicting the Effects of Cellular-Phone Dialing on Driver Performance, Cognitive Systems Research, 19 Aug 2006 Tokunaga, R.A. Shimojo, A. Hagiwara, T. Kagaya, S. & Uchida, K (n.d.), Effects of Cellular Telephone Use while driving based on Objective and Subjective Mental Workload Assessment, 19 Aug 2006 Tseng, W. Nguyen, H. Liebowitz, J. & Agresti, W (2005), Distractions and motor vehicle accidents, Industrial Management & Data Systems, Volume 105 Number 9 2005 pp. 1188-1205 Vollrath, M. & Totzke, I. (n.d), In-Vehicle Communication Driving: An attempt to overcome their Interference, Centre for Traffic Sciences, 19 Aug 2006 Read More