| Mobile phone use in motor vehicles has increased at a | | | | motor vehicle. In light of the ongoing research for, and |
| remarkable rate over the past 15 years. Yet it is | | | | by, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| undeniable that utilizing a cell phone while driving can | | | | ( we should at least consider their policy on using cell |
| affect driver performance as it relates to the overall | | | | phones while driving that states "The primary |
| safe operation of a vehicle. There are a number of | | | | responsibility of the driver is to operate a motor vehicle |
| things to consider in deciding whether the trade off in | | | | safely. The task of driving requires full attention and |
| convenience is worth the potential risks associated | | | | focus. Cell phone use can distract drivers from this |
| with the distraction created by a cell phone. Given the | | | | task, risking harm to themselves and others. Therefore, |
| fact that the individual driver (and/or business owner) | | | | the safest course of action is to refrain from using a |
| ultimately pays for the resulting consequences | | | | cell phone while driving."Source: Cellular |
| associated with an auto or truck accident (financial, | | | | Telecommunications & Internet Association |
| emotional and physical lose); it is prudent to seek out | | | | (CTIA)According to the CTIA, there are currently more |
| relevant and reliable information in making a decision. In | | | | than 218 million subscribed cell phone users as of |
| doing so, consider the source, as well as the possible | | | | August 2006 (compared to some 4.3 million in 1990). |
| motivation behind the information provider.Source: US | | | | Based on the extraordinary growth of cellular phone |
| LegislationIn the United States, there are currently no | | | | industry and the CTIA's advisory role, it may be of |
| federal laws prohibiting driving while using a cell phone. | | | | value to think about their point of view on this topic. In |
| In an earnest attempt to find a solution, some states | | | | doing so, you might consider a document found on the |
| (New Jersey, New York, the District of Columbia, | | | | CTIA's web site, entitled "SafeDrivingTalkingPoints2" |
| Connecticut and pending in California) have passed | | | | (created June 6, 2006) that states "But for some |
| laws barring hand-held cell phone use while driving. | | | | reason, legislative efforts to prevent driver distractions |
| Typical fines range from $50 to $100 for drivers | | | | have been narrowly focused on wireless phone use. |
| caught using a hand-held device. While these | | | | According to government statistics and respected |
| lawmakers have the public's best interest at heart by | | | | research studies, this approach is well off point." |
| levying fines, not all entities weighing in on this subject | | | | Consider that, there are more than 220 million vehicles |
| are likely to have the same incentive.Source: | | | | on the road and a similar number of cell phones |
| Manufacturer ResearchAs the result of an | | | | subscribers. Based on the amount of time customers |
| independent study (found on their web site in the form | | | | might potentially spend using their cell phones in |
| of a press release), Plantronics, a manufacturer of | | | | vehicles, we would hope to find the CTIA an objective |
| headsets states, "71% of drivers steer more | | | | source. Given the magnitude of the revenue at stake, |
| accurately when using a headset with a mobile phone". | | | | is a greater degree of scrutiny in order here? Would |
| They point out that the study was to discover if a | | | | the CTIA hold a different position if they were liable, in |
| person using a mobile phone improves driving if he or | | | | part, for distracted vehicle accidents?Source: Leading |
| she uses a headset. Stephen Wilcox, Ph.D., Principal of | | | | Universities & Independent ResearchersWhile there |
| Design Science (independent research firm) states, | | | | are a number of valuable studies on this subject, the |
| "Driving with both hands on the wheel is the safest | | | | following are extensive research projects provided by |
| option for motorists who use mobile phones, and | | | | highly accredited organizations:1) Virginia Tech |
| headsets are tools to enable that improvement." | | | | Transportation Institute researchers and the National |
| Considering the source, is this statement characteristic | | | | Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) |
| of scientific research? Is it objective and free of | | | | tracked 100 cars and their drivers for a year; they |
| marketing bias? Could it confuse individuals into thinking | | | | discovered that talking on cell phones caused more |
| that cell phones are safe as long as you are | | | | crashes, near-crashes and other incidents than other |
| hands-free? Additionally, found toward the end of the | | | | distractions (100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study, April |
| press release, is a comment by a senior director of | | | | 2006).2) University of Utah researchers determined |
| product marketing. Beth Johnson states, "It's important | | | | that motorists on the blood-alcohol threshold of being |
| to keep in mind that our study is not intended to | | | | legally drunk were able to drive better than sober cell |
| address the issue of whether or not it is safe to talk | | | | phone using drivers. A key researcher and author in |
| on a mobile phone while driving, but rather what type | | | | this field, Psychology Professor David Strayer notes, |
| of technology is safest for drivers to use while talking | | | | "Just like you put yourself and other people at risk |
| on their mobile phones". They also state their intent is | | | | when you drive drunk, you put yourself and others at |
| to "educate drivers on options for using mobile phones | | | | risk when you use a cell phone and drive. The level of |
| comfortably and responsibly while driving". Given that | | | | impairment is very similar." Also, consider they found |
| the goal is safety education, is this research | | | | motorists to be more accident-prone and slower to |
| responsibly comprehensive to consider it a relevant | | | | react when talking on cellular telephones. It did not |
| and reliable source?Surely, as you go about your own | | | | matter if it was hands-free either because of |
| assessment the idea of freeing up both hands to | | | | "inattention blindness", a syndrome that makes a driver |
| control the steering wheel is a logical consideration. If a | | | | less able to process visual information.3) The George |
| driver focuses exclusively on driving the vehicle, then | | | | Institute for International Health (University of Sydney, |
| two hands on the wheel is better than one. | | | | Australia), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety |
| Unfortunately, this seemingly sensible approach can | | | | (Arlington, Virginia) and Injury Research Centre, |
| lead to a false sense of driver security (possibly | | | | University of Western Australia (Crawley Australia) |
| increasing crash risk) as noted in various reports ( by | | | | jointly presented research entitled "Role of mobile |
| the Crash Investigation Team at Virginia | | | | phones in motor vehicle crashes resulting in hospital |
| Commonwealth University Center for Public Safety. | | | | attendance: a case-crossover study". The research |
| Their findings illustrated that the cognitive resources | | | | consisted of 456 drivers aged 17 years who owned or |
| required to carry on a phone conversation are | | | | used mobile phones and had been involved in road |
| equivalent to those necessary to drive. This is an | | | | crashes requiring hospital attendance between April |
| important concern given VCU's history of | | | | 2002 and July 2004. They concluded that a driver who |
| transportation safety research, as well as other | | | | uses a mobile phone (up to 10 minutes prior to a crash) |
| studies concluding this behavior (carrying on a phone | | | | has a four times higher likelihood of crashing and an |
| conversation while driving), reduces both driver reaction | | | | increased likelihood of a crash resulting in injury. Using a |
| time and driver attentiveness, especially as they relate | | | | hands-free phone is not any safer.Eliminate the Risk & |
| to braking.Unlike a computer, humans have a limited | | | | Keep the BenefitsIf you are the head of a household, |
| capacity to process simultaneous information. If the | | | | a guardian or the parent of a less experienced driver, |
| software on your computer seems to slow down, you | | | | your decision to allow any in-vehicle cell phone use |
| might consider increasing the memory or processor | | | | carries a major emotional and financial risk. If you are a |
| speed to compensate for delays resulting from an | | | | fleet manager or you employ individuals that conduct |
| overload in computing capacity. We as humans have | | | | work-related conversations while driving, the risk of |
| a similar limitation when it comes to processing too | | | | liability for distracted accidents could fall on you. |
| much information, but unlike computers, our resources | | | | Strongly consider the legal ramifications for the |
| are somewhat fixed. Given the inherent delays in our | | | | careless operation of an employee-owned or |
| own thought response time when faced with | | | | company-supplied vehicle before deciding to ignore the |
| increased load factors, is it practical or safe to hold a | | | | inherent danger created by a major cognitive |
| cell phone conversation while driving a motor | | | | distraction such as a cell phone.Obviously, there are no |
| vehicle?Source: Government Transportation Safety | | | | easy or certain solutions without sacrifice of |
| ResearchThe US government employs many of the | | | | convenience. Remember that the benefit of having a |
| top transportation safety experts and funds a major | | | | cell phone (emergency use and times when you are |
| portion of the world's accident prevention research. | | | | not operating a vehicle) is not lost just because it |
| Given the effects traffic accidents and related | | | | remains off while driving. If you consider the facts |
| congestion have on US productivity, accident reduction | | | | presented by relevant and reliable sources, it really is |
| is a top priority. Considering that distracted driving | | | | not a matter of a trade off after all, but an opportunity |
| accounted for at least 6.4 percent of crash fatalities in | | | | to prevent an accident or possibly a fatality. In the |
| 2004 (U.S. Department of Transportation), many | | | | mean time, until it is proven otherwise, think about |
| researchers are looking closely at the distinguishing | | | | instigating a life saving strategy NOW for the safe use |
| distraction caused by cell phone use in vehicles. | | | | of cell phones - limit yourself, loved ones and |
| Furthermore, of the many potential distractions in a | | | | employees to use (personal and business) only when |
| vehicle, cell phones are considered equally or more | | | | the vehicle is in park!Gary S. Rothstein is the President |
| dangerous than the other known distractions such as | | | | of Mobile Awareness, a company which designs and |
| eating, reading a map or grooming while operating a | | | | markets vehicle safety products. |