| Wireless communication has dramatically improved | | | | Connecticut. In 2008, California will join the ranks of |
| daily life, but mobile phone technology also has a | | | | states banning hand-held phone use by drivers. In |
| dramatic downside: the proliferation of cell phone use | | | | November 2006, it was determined by the National |
| by drivers has made the roads considerably more | | | | Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) that there |
| dangerous. | | | | were 14 statewide bans on cell phone use by minors |
| Cell Phones are a Leading Cause of Driver Distraction | | | | operating an automobile. |
| A joint study released by the National Highway Traffic | | | | Hands-Free is No Safety Guarantee |
| Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech | | | | Many drivers have switched to hands-free mobile |
| Transportation Institute in April 2006 concluded that | | | | phone devices in an effort to cut down on their risk of |
| nearly 80 percent of car crashes and 65 percent of | | | | being involved in car accidents. However, recent |
| near-crashes occur within three seconds of some kind | | | | evidence suggests that even a hands-free cell phone |
| of driver distraction. Dialing a cell phone ranked among | | | | presents a danger on the road. According to the |
| the most dangerous distractions, tripling the risk of | | | | Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study |
| being involved in an auto accident. However, while | | | | conducted in Perth, Australia in 2005, switching from |
| dialing was extremely dangerous, the study discovered | | | | hand-held cell phones to hands-free devices does not |
| that merely having a conversation on the phone while | | | | reduce the risk of car crashes. Another study |
| driving was less of a hazard than reaching for a falling | | | | conducted by the University of Utah, and published in |
| object or driving while drowy. However, the | | | | the summer of 2006, the issue of human factors also |
| prevalence of cell phone use by drivers makes it the | | | | concludes that hands-free cellular phones carry the |
| one of the most common - and therefore most | | | | same risk as hand-held phones. Research is being |
| dangerous - factors in car and truck crashes. | | | | conducted on how high the risk is of hands-free mobile |
| Currently, as per the NHTSA, there are more than 10 | | | | phone devices are -- as many claim that the driver is |
| million U.S. drivers talking on cellular phones at any | | | | more concentrated on a conversation via the phone |
| given moment, an alarming figure given the link | | | | than on their driving skills. |
| between cell phones and distracted driving. | | | | It is advisable for an individual who has just been in an |
| Cell Phones Bans on the Rise | | | | automobile accident a driver's cell phone use increased |
| In response to the increasing evidence linking cellular | | | | the chance of the wreck occuring, contacting a |
| phone use and auto accidents, a number of states | | | | personal injury lawyer could be beneficial. Upon |
| have started to ban their use on the roads. States with | | | | contact with an automobile accident attorney, you will |
| legislation restricting cell phone use while driving include | | | | likely receive a consultation on your case and how |
| New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and | | | | potential monetary compensation can be derived. |