Using a cell phone should be banned during driving - Research Paper Example

English 26 November Using a Cell Phone Should be banned during Driving Cell phones have a wide range of uses in the modern society as compared to the older times. Today, people depend on communication via phones more than on face-to-face meeting in business and life agendas. The usage of hand cells increased tremendously in the last 15 years or less; technology advancement and world’s competitive nature has made it easier for almost everyone to own one today. According to Verderber R., Verderber K., and Sellnow (246), in span of 12 to 14 years that saw the society growth in cell phones use, the 4.3 million users as of 1990s grew to 168 million users in 2004, let alone the other unaccounted for period to 2012. However, despite modernization, it is a fact that any development to cell phones access in societies has resulted to more cases of traffic accidents connected to cell phone use, while on the roads. Teens and the young generation: In this information age, individuals as young as 12 or less have easy access to cell phones. Unlike before, phones have become cheaper that one could think, and they have no more value. Teens are more identified to use the cell phones to text, facebook, and twit others, as a form of communication more than calling. Lenhart states that American teens prefer texting messages as the basic form of communication, not just to their friends, but in general, and in their daily lives (16). Because of their developed habit of texting, there is a high tendency that they would do the same while driving. Actually, of most of them do not have a driving license, hence even lacking the basic knowledge of safety procedures and precautions while driving. If any habit is not controlled, the implications would be serious and most especially if it is negative conduct. The same case applies to the teens, who Vasquez states that 34 percent of them confirm to have sent text messages while driving (cnn.com). Either they have no education on driving policies or they could be acting out of ignorance. Guardians also have lost control of their children, or are not doing enough to ensure safety precautions on the societies’ lives, plus those of their teenage children. A Research carried out expressed that every year 21percent of critical car crashes, where teenagers ranging from 16 to19 years old were involved, occured because of cell phone irresponsible use, which is anticipated to increase by 4 percent each year (“Statistics,” lifebeforetext.com). The young generation then becomes the highest risk drivers based on cell phone use while driving. Probably because of their age, they would also like to show off the modern package of communication and vehicle model that they are using. In the midst of their entangled behavior and age, they are then doomed to be involved in reckless driving either by calling, chatting, texting, or even surfing while driving. By introducing the ban, such irresponsible driving which can cause an accident by this group of people can be minimized. Technology and Smart phones: At different periods, new models of cell phones and other communication gadgets are invented to make communication easier, flexible and timely. Unlike before, where the main use was just calling and texting, cell phone assemblers and companies are currently competing to offer the best features to the product’s consumer. Phones come with inbuilt features for web connection, cameras, USB ports, advanced calling and texting modes, quick connectivity to twitter, facebook and other social programs, bluetooths and Wifi among other advanced features. All together, they form intelligent communication systems in a single full package. So, at what expense can a driver fail to use the features for his or her intended purpose knowing that they are readily available? Smart phones have a variety of advanced functions, though intelligent and easily made to control; all those activated features provide a good platform from which most of the drivers, who own them, can easily be distracted (Bettivia and NFL 45). If a text comes in, they do not hesitate to read or view the file, which takes away their attention from the road. A call comes in, but there are no chances of avoiding it. Something may not be needed so urgently, but since the phones have all the features, they do not want to delay their callers. Even in the old times, when phones were not mobile, drivers could drive for long hours without distraction and in such times, accidents were also few. Technology and its intelligence is not to blame rather the users have to limit their use based on situation, or else, the governments should come in and forcefully direct their citizens on how or when to use the cell phones. One of which is to lawfully ban sue of cell phones while driving. Today, every one is going for a smart phone; nobody wants to be limited on use, but the government also can claim for strict law adherence on road safety while driving. While most of the drivers know the danger involved, they lack patience, hence paving way for ignorance and putting their own and the surrounding safety second. By the time they realize, either the accident has occurred or someone is in an emergency state. According to Karia, based on a research conducted by Institute of Advanced Motorists, of he 3.5 million license holders, 8 percent of the drivers and 24 percent of drivers ranging from 17 and 24 confessed to using their smart phones behind the wheel (techweekeurope.co.uk). As drivers use their smart phones to surf, most of the times for social networking and emailing, they risk causing crashes since their focus on driving is impaired. Even if they no longer have to press buttons to text like in the past, entering texts or signs while touching the screen snatches their attention, enough to cause a transport commotion. It is believed that drivers attention from the road can distracted, such that he or she takes the eyes off the road to send or receive text, for an average period of 4.6 seconds, which is similar to driving blindly for a55 mph-driving length (VTTI Distraction.gov). It is evident that at one point drivers’ attention from the road will be minimized to internalize the message sent or dial the text fast enough and send it. Police and transport managers have another case to worry of recent; besides texting and calling, what is currently gaining roots is the drivers’ menace of taking photographs while driving. Some of them even reduce speed unexpectedly endangering other motorists behind, as they get a clear screen shot of the object. Some could be attractive scenes, but instead of stopping the vehicle and take the photo, they want to have both and claim its time management. Well, having both are matters of chances and it would be better to follow the common tradition of a one thing at a time. In the course of such reckless driving, government, mobile phone companies, motorist organizations and even social network providers have a lot to educate the ignorant society as much of the resources are been spent for a situation that would have been prevented. Motor insurance companies spend quite heavily for such cases that are easy to prevent, but very little has been done so far, in many countries and states. In fact individuals taking photos and videos while driving should be seriously fined, if ban enforcement if not legalized. It is no wonder that people will always try to keep a close look on their intelligent phones, every time now and then. It has become like a god, every where, almost all the time no matter whatever the activity the holder is carrying out. That is why most people die, while the drivers are reaching for their cell phones. Cell phone physical distraction: This involves both visual and manual contact diversion that would make a driver loose focus from the complex driving task that demands for concentration. Visual distraction is most common where an activity may require the drivers to redirect their eyes off the road, for another task. Most often, you will see drivers position their phones next to the sterling, so that they can read the phone messages at any instant of a button press. From time to time, they will take their eyes off and on the road, as they want to complete reading or viewing in the case of sent photos and videos. One would not understand the case of blind driving, but part of what is needed, is driver’s eyes focus on the roads. Manual distraction based on cell phone use, also physically causes the drivers to let go the vehicles’ controller parts, so that they get to handle the phone. Definitely those with hand held cell phones would take their hands off the wheel to attend to the caller. According to Bettivia and NFL (44), “in the case of an emergency where shifting or steering is unexpectedly necessary, having one hand unavailable will slow the driver’s reaction time and increase the chance of an accident.” One hand would be left to control the vehicle, and in case of another operation like putting the gear, or sending an indication for a turn, the same single hand has to perform all that, as the other one is busy holding the cell phone. Drivers are more likely to divert both their eyes attention and release the driving wheel, while texting and using cell phone cameras to take photo images. Phone calls ringtones are neither different from music distraction and the best way would be to reduce the volume, or completely keep the phone off to avoid the distraction. Hence prohibition of use of cell phones while driving would also reduce physical distraction for the driver, and as a result, the number of fatalities, injuries, and accidents would be mitigated. Cell phone mental distraction: Cell phones have become an addiction, and every time any driver realizes or remembers something, they communicate it instantly. Like everybody else, even if it is not something urgent they opt to talk it out like the persons in conversation are just next to them. Talking while driving brings a cognitive distraction; hence, using hand held cell phones involve both physical and cognitive effect. This is a risky situation, drawing active involvement skill and concentration away from driving. You can imagine a case of a novice driver using a hand held cell phone, and in the event an emergency arises. Such individuals are at a high risk of crashing, since they spend less time concentrating on the road ahead, have high chances of wandering across the traffic lanes, and take more time to identify driving hazards (“Road safety,” dpti.sa.gov.au). Generally, they cannot easily balance their physical and metal tasks in such a situation, with the little experience they have acquired. Picking phone calls and conversing entails a psychological consequence, where the user is carried away by emotions. Often, the driver will pay attention and want to reach the depth of the details in a conversation. While conversing, mental attention is split between conversation and the ever changing road conditions (Verderber R., Verderber K., and Sellnow 248). Conversation is a two way flow of information, and for a proper response on his side it may mean slowing down speed or holding brakes so as to listen or respond. While talking is lesser riskier than texting, a driver on a phone call would not hear other vehicles hooting, and the drivers are less likely to get the meaning of the road signs they comes across. Conversations make them to be less conscious to their surrounding; chances are that the driver’s carelessness endangers the pedestrians and other passengers’ lives, besides damaging societies’ resources. At times, drivers on the road are fraught with emotion and based on the situation, they develop rage or excessive joy whose repercussion may get of hand to cause accidents. Most of the employed drivers will use their employers’ cell phones, provided for the job to call their families as they travel for job purposes. Although this is a company concern, probability of the drivers been distracted from job purposes while driving remain high, enough to cause a fatality. Insurance companies have raised their concern due to the number of cases they have to cover for, related to accidents caused through reckless driving, while in phone conversation. Vehicle insurances are business entities and many people invest their money with an aim of making profit; they hence have to account for irresponsible driving such as cell phone mental distraction, if the business has to make quantifiable profit (“Car accidents caused,” nolo.com). The concern is that any reckless behavior in cell phone handling while driving increases the chances of a vehicle insurance company to disburse a substantial claim, and as a result they tend to charge a higher price for insurance so that they retain their profits. In short, not even a hands free cell phone is safe, as long as it causes uncontrolled mental distraction, it would also be necessary to ban it. Inadequate laws: Some may claim that hands free cell phone reduces distraction, but what difference does it make if the conversation itself is the distraction? According to Flynn (158), motorcyclist and vehicle drivers should stop by the road side to make and receive calls, text, and perhaps socially network, if they have to, or else switch off the phones (whether personal or company owed) but not risk people’s lives. It may sound crazy, if not foolish, but if it can save a life, then it is worth the risk. It is more likely for the injured patients in accidents caused by employees use of phones (whether hand held or hands free cell phones) while driving, to litigate the employees’ employers (“Car accidents caused,” nolo.com). This is an extended responsibility burdened to the employers, which could be eliminated by banning cell phone use behind the wheel. As much as many companies have regulated the use of phones for their employees while driving, it is still not enough to prevent them. Some companies provide their employees with free hand cell phones, forgetting that distraction is not only physical. While some employers completely prohibited cell phone use, it looks unfair comparing it other companies who have not placed a ban. Despite the fact that employers want to evade the liability in case of an accident, employees ignore the regulations and policies in place for their safety. Different companies have different policies, and way in which run their businesses, which result to diverse regulations on cell phone use while driving. While one employer is on a full prohibition, the other may allow taking calls, but restrict texting behind the wheel. For consistency and road use equality, there should be no exceptions, governments, cell phone manufactures, employers and transport organization should reach an agreement to outlaw cell phone use while driving. It may not be easy but since technology is available, combining cell phone billing records and employing photography to automatically detect drivers using cell phones while driving, going against the law is possible (IDEA and Trapp 45). Government have to set up road watch through stationed cameras at different intervals, whose data can be accessed and analyzed on a daily basis to identify and punish the law breakers once the ban is legalized. With that, drivers can be responsible while driving, give full concentration to avoid accidents and being caught on the wrong side. Proscription in other countries: It is possible to reduce accidents caused by cell phone; governments only need to enforce the prohibition. The society is the same that complains and gets hurt in case of the accidents, hence even in the outlaw of cell phone use, it is no doubt that they will complain. However, people had been driving before the cell phones came, yet they could do without them, and the accidents were minimal. Several countries have completely banned, while others have placed restrictions for their citizens’ use of cell phones while driving. Most of which are lenient on hands free cell phones, holding that it is less distractive. Referring to Flynn (156), 40 nations have opted for outlaw or restrictions of driving while using cell phones, with numerous states of North America like Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, California and Washington among others, prohibiting hand held cell phones while driving. Despite their step, it shows that there is an attitude of preference of hands free cell phone use, over hand held cell phones. There is more to be done since they have left room for psychological distractions, posed by any occurring conversation of the drivers with their callers. The law may have affected few in the societies, yet seem to be a bias on some drivers. As long there is a hand free cell phone plugged in your vehicle, you are free to make and receive calls. What about motor cyclist and other personal vehicles without plugged ones? The danger and road distractions are minimized, but drivers of vehicles with hands free cell phone, still remain high targets for severe distractions, and cause of road accidents. In New Jersey and Washington, text messaging behind the wheel is unlawful no matter the age or situation (Flynn 156). Generally, other nations have made a step; this should serve as an example to other nations that are still thinking on what to do concerning the rise in cell phone linked accidents and fatalities. Though the cell phones have other considerable benefits in this information age, the timing of use has proven to obstruct driving activities, and due to ignorance for road safety measures, cell phone use prohibition while driving would bring back drivers attention on the roads. Works Cited Bettivia, Rhiannon, and NLF. The Middler Schoolers’ Databases: 75 Current Controversies for Debaters. New York, NY: IDEA, 2011. Print. “Car Accidents Caused by Cell Phone Use.” nolo.com. n.d.Web. 26 November, 2012. Flynn, Nancy. The E- Book Handbook: Rules and Best Practices to Safely Manage your Company’s Email, Blogs, Social Networking and Other Electronic Communication Tools. 2nd ed. New York, NY: AMACOM, 2009. Print. IDEA, and Trapp Robert., eds. The Database Book: A Must Have-Guide for Successful Debate. 4th ed. IDEA: New York, NY, 2009. Print. Karia, Jiten. “Using a Smart Phone while Driving More Dangerous than Alcohol.” Techweekeurope.co.uk. 5 March, 2012. Web. 26 November, 2012. Lenhart, Amanda. “Teens Smartphones and Texting,” Pewinternet.org. 19 March, 2012. Web. 26 November, 2012. “Road safety: Mobile Phone Use,” dpti.sa.gov. n.d. Web. 26 November, 2012. “Statistics.” lifebeforetext.com . n.d. Web. 26 November, 2012. Vasquez, Eva. “Adults as likely to Text While Driving as Teens, Study Says,” Cnn.com. 18 June, 2010. Web. 26 November, 2012. Verderber, Rudolph F., Verderber, Kathleen S., and Sellnow Deanna D. Comm 2008-2009. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage learning, 2009. Print. VTTI. “Key Facts and Statistics.”Distraction.gov. n.d. Web. 26 November, 2012. Read More