Cellular Phones on the Road :: essays research papers

Cellular phones are one of the most widely and most popular forms of communication today. Cell phones are so easily accessible and portable that it only makes sense that cell phones and automobiles will sometimes go together. Cell phones are a cause of some of the accidents we see today, but does this mean we should ban the use of them all together or just change the way we go about using them?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1997, reported the results of a study of 699 drivers in Canada. All were phone-using drivers who had been involved in a collision. The study concluded, â€Å"Collision risk is four times greater if you use a phone while driving† (Burk). In another study conducted by Accident Analysis and Prevention Journal in 1998, found that if a driver is in an accident while using a wireless phone, the chances are nine times greater that it will be a fatal accident.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is a lot of controversy going on right now and so far New York is the only one state that has outlawed the use of cellular phones while driving. Many other states are in the process of trying to get this new law passed. As for Missouri, the legislation is still in committee and we wont know any more until the next time they meet to discuss this, in January 2002. Talking on a cell phone, in my opinion, while driving is no more dangerous that lighting a cigarette, operating the radio or dealing with children and I don’t think there is much chance of getting all of these things outlawed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A 1996 study be the Japanese National Policy Agency found that â€Å"many phone-related crashes occurred while the driver was responding to a call, which included being startled or distracted by the ringing, dropping the phone or tuning to pick it up† (Burk). If people would just be smarter about how they use their cellular phones by doing things such as, not responding to a call while in a trying traffic situation, setting the phone on a lower ringing volume while in their vehicle, etc.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Many people who use wireless phones while they drive argue that the benefits of their phones (flexibility and convenience) outweigh any potential risks† (Radelmeier 27). Almost all of the people, who responded to a survey given by Motorola, argue that wireless phones increase their flexibility.