Banning Cell Phones While Driving: A Step Towards Improved Road Safety - Research Paper

Introduction

In most parts of the world, it is a norm for people to converse on phones while driving. However, as the cases of car accidents continue being on the rise, several efforts are being made to improve road safety and reduce the fatalities that result from these accidents. Most state governments have been in the forefront in enacting policies that geared towards addressing road accidents within their states, although the problem is national wide and needs to be properly addressed if the problem is to be fully controlled (Tedesco 3). Using cellphones while driving quickly distracts the driver, and it can be compared to driving under a strong influence of alcohol which lowers a person's judgement while on the road. With the increase in technology and a high number of people owning cellphones, the problem of road accidents and associated fatalities will continue bothering society unless the government creates firm and effective policies to control their usage while driving. Despite the argument that the using cellphones should be eliminated while driving, it is hard to keep this technology off with the high demands to communicate either business or personal matters. Therefore, using a hands-free phone compared to the hand-held ones will act as a significant step to reduce road accidents.

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Research indicates that accidents related to cellphones and their associated fatalities have been on the increase in the United States. Tedesco points out that the increase has happened despite having high legislative actions by the government to curb this menace (4). These legal actions have included giving warning to the general public concerning the dangers associated with cellphone usages, both to the passengers and the person behind the wheels. Some states prohibit drivers from texting or using a hand-held phone to have long conversations and demand that if it is necessary for a driver to use the handset, it should have a hands free system so that their control of the wheel is not tampered with (Tedesco 4). Ferdinand et al. also point out that on top of the many policies aimed at controlling the fatalities of road accidents, most states have lately concentrated on prohibiting texting while on the road (1370). The involved states describe this usage as reading, sending e-messages, or emails on a cell phone. The action dramatically contributes to fatal accidents because it makes the driver fail to position the car in the right position on the lane, impairs the following distance, as well as the time that one takes to react. The results can be case crashes that might lead to instant deaths or life-long health effects.

Further research reinstates the fact that drivers should not be allowed to talk on hand-held phones. Nakaya denotes that according to many road experts, those drivers who use their cellphones while on the road can be compared to the drunk drivers because the extent of probable danger on the road is similar (1). In line with this, six states (New York, Oregon, New Jersey, Washington, California and Connecticut) in the U.S have banned the use hand-held phones and drivers are expected to use hands-free devices when necessary (Nakaya 1). It is important to note that the enactment of the texting laws plays a significant role in reducing the number of traffic fatalities compared to the states which have no such requirements, as indicated in the results of the Ferdinand et al.'s study (Ferdinand et al. 1375). The results are a clear indication that if all states followed the same steps and made texting a crime, most drivers would turn to a hands-free method, and the rate of car accidents would reduce in general.

Texting laws have been shown to be effective in reducing accident fatalities among young people. To also protect the older adults who find talking on the phone easier than texting, there is a need to include laws that prohibit hand-held devices (Ferdinand et al. 1375). The reason behind this ban should be based on the fact that any form of conversation on mobile phones while driving brings a lot of distractions and significantly leads to road accidents. Human beings are limited in their multitasking levels, and conversing on cellphones while driving is an overstretched limit that will have undesirable results (Healy 2). In this case, either the hands-free or hand-held communication, the limit will be overstretched, and the resultant low levels of concentration might lead to fatal collisions. Preferring hands-free method is only looking at the issue on a brighter side, which is safer than leaving it unattended. After encouraging the hands-free method, laws should be enacted to reduce the length of time that one should have a conversation while driving so that the concentration span on the road is increased.

Conclusion

In conclusion, enacting laws that encourage using the hands-free method to communicate while driving will significantly contribute to reducing the cases of fatal accidents which have been the leading cause of death in many countries. Most states have introduced texting laws that prohibit drivers from holding their phones to send quick messages while driving. Texting has been shown to reduce the concentration of a driver and impair their judgement, which can consequently lead to crashes and death to the upper limit. Although using the hands-free method is not equally safe, it is better than the hand-held way where the driver has to use both hands in the process of driving. Strict laws should be put in place to control cellphone usage, both at hand free and hand-held levels to limit drivers from having many distractions on the road. Concentrating on the road alone will contribute to safe driving and reduce the witnessed cases of car accidents.

Works Cited

Ferdinand et al. "Laws and other tools for Protecting Public Health: Impact of Texting Laws on Motor Vehicular Fatalities in the United Sates." American Journal of Public Health, vol.104, no.8, 2014, pp.1370-1377.

Healy, Melissa. "Hands-Free Devices Will Not Make Drivers Safer." Cell Phones and Driving, edited by Stefan Kiesbye, Greenhaven Press, 2011.

Nakaya, Andrea C. (ed.). "Preface to 'How Can Driving in America Be Made Safer?'." Cars in America. Greenhaven Press, 2010.

Tedesco, Caitlin. "Cellphone Use While Driving: A Safety and Effectiveness Analysis of Cell Phone Use While Driving in the United States." Policy Memorandum, 2014, pp.1-63. Available at https://www.du.edu/korbel/ipps/media/documents/tedesco.pdf