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Cell phones can not
only be a necessity for this day and age, but
can also be a lifesaver to a stranded motorist.
Cell phones can be especially useful if you find
yourself stranded in severe weather or in
secluded or remote areas where walking is out of
the question. Unfortunately we can’t always
trust a person who stops to help; therefore
being able to call someone is a great comfort to
many. But cell phones and cars don’t always mix.
Cell phones can be a distraction when the driver
should be more concerned on operating his or her
vehicle in a safe manner.
This topic is part of
an intense debate that has already caused some
areas to ban hand held cell phone usage in cars
if you are the driver and it will continue for
some time.
Opponents of cell
phones in cars point to a New England Journal of
Medicine study that shows drivers who regularly
talk on cell phones are 4 times more likely to
be in an accident during a call than a motorist
that does not use a cell phone while driving.
Four times is nearly the same risk as driving
while intoxicated.
Supporters of cell
phones in cars say talking on a cell phone is no
more distracting than holding a conversation
with a passenger, changing a CD, or eating and
think that a ban on cell phones in cars is an
infringement on personal rights. They point to a
study by the American Automobile Association
(AAA) that showed cell phones caused only 1.5
percent of all accidents nationwide from 1995
through 1999.
In recent years
the cell phone industry has grown exponentially
so the number of cell phones in vehicles has
also risen. At least if you are in a
conversation with a person in the same car, they
are experiencing and seeing everything the
driver is and sometimes can help you avoid an
accident. The passenger might see a car that
slammed on their brakes in front of you that the
person on the other end of a cell phone wouldn’t
be able to see.
No matter which
side of the issue you are on, most experts agree
that if you drive with a cell phone, avoid
unnecessary calls and always make the driving
task your top priority. If you must make an
extended call, pull off the road and park in a
safe place. If you must make a call when you are
behind the wheel it is suggested that you are
familiar with the phone’s features, the less you
have to look at the phone the better. Keep the
call short or if possible ask a passenger to
place the call for you and to do the talking as
well. Telling the person on the other end of the
line that you are driving and get off the phone
as soon as possible especially in traffic or bad
weather. Also, try not to combine a phone call
with other distractions like eating and always
make sure your phone is secured, you don’t want
it to become a projectile in a crash. And
remember, driving requires your full attention. |