With the growth rate of cellular phone usage at 40 percent a year, more and more people are using their cell phones while driving. More and more people are using their cell phones in the car, in part, because the phones are becoming so technologically advanced that it makes it easy to conduct business while stuck in traffic or traveling to work. Cell phones have progressed from large, heavy, expensive phones to small, light, and inexpensive phones that have the capabilities of Internet, fax, e-mail, etc. These advances in the industry have increased the use of driving and talking; oftentimes a deadly combination. From the time the user picks up the cell phone, he is either dialing, looking up phone numbers or conducting important phone calls. This can and has led to serious accidents that have resulted in fatalities. The problem of cell phone usage while driving is not going unnoticed with voices of concern coming from the public, legislation, and media. Since there is a growing user population, these concerned citizens recommend that something be done in order to lessen the chance of accidents occurring while driving and talking.

Today, cell phones are being used not only by wealthy business people, but also by all ages and genders all over the world. This wide range of people use cell phones to do many different activities ranging from the scheduling of appointments to simply talking to their friends and relatives. The user group has evolved from forty-year olds to the young and elderly who often place calls just for personal reasons. This booming phone usage has caught the attention of many safety-conscious citizens. Surveys have been conducted by groups who are interested in finding out just how risky it is to drive while talking on a cell phone. Prevention Magazine, along with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), recently conducted surveys which revealed interesting results. 85 percent of people responding stated that they do talk on the phone while driving, at least occasionally. 70 percent reported that talking on the phone was no more distracting to them then tuning the car stereo. And 18 percent of the respondents admitted that they are distracted while driving and talking on their cell phones(Prevention Magazine, 1998).

While the growth of cell phone usage continues to soar upward, cell phone-related vehicle accidents are also on the rise. There are many activities associated with using a cell phone that may cause these accidents. A study was conducted by the North Carolina’s Department of Motor Vehicles along with the Highway Safety Research Center to show how most phone-related accidents occur. The study showed that most cell phone-related accidents occurred while the driver was actually conversing on the phone. Picking up a dropped cell phone was the second leading cause of phone-related accidents in the state(www.nhtsa.dot.gov, 1996).

From the years of 1992-1995, the state of North Carolina has recorded over 75 cellular phone-related car accidents(www.nhtsa.dot.gov, 1996). And this figure may be low. There is a concern that many accidents do not include any mention of cell phone usage when there actually may have been. Some possible explanations for this under-reporting might include:

1. Drivers attempting to hide their cell phones at the time of the accident.
1. Drivers not considering the use of their cell phones as relevant and therefore not mentioning their use.
1. Investigating officers not asking about cell phone use and/or not considering cell phone use as relevant in the accident..

Interestingly, along with under-reporting cell phone usage, there may be reasons to expect people might over-report the use of their cell phones as a cause of an accident:

1. Drivers attributing accidents to cell phone use when there might be another cause, such as running a red light.
1. Investigating officers jumping to the conclusion that cell phones were the main contributor, when something else may have been the cause.
1. As investigating officers become more aware that cell phones could be causing crashes, they may be over-emphasizing the use as a cause in the accident.

The National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) reported that in April, May, and June of 1996, there were only 10 accidents out of 60,233 that were caused by the use of a cell phone. The causes of 3 of these cases are sampled below:

• Case #1: The driver attempted to answer the cell phone and ran off the road and hit a tree.
• Case #2: The driver, reaching for a cell phone, ran a red light and struck another vehicle.
• Case #3: The driver was talking on a cell phone and "not paying attention" when she rear-ended another vehicle stopped for a crossing pedestrian.

In many accidents, there are reports of a cellular phone being present in the vehicle, but many drivers do not admit to using it because of fear that he/she may be blamed for the accident. According to most investigating officers, witnesses are key sources to proving that a cell phone was the cause of the accident.

Perhaps our legislators need to step in a create some laws that will help prevent some of these accidents that are occurring due to the usage of cell phones while driving. Does the public in general support such legislation. As more and more studies are proving that using a cell phone while driving is a distraction and causes accidents, victimized drivers along with other concerned citizens are pushing for laws that regulate the use of cell phones in vehicles. The Colonial Penn Safe Driving Center conducted a survey among 150 drivers ranging in age from 25-69. The survey reported that 49 percent are in favor of passing a law, which will officially ban the use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle. Caroline Metz, a director of the Colonial Penn Safe Driving Center says that operating a motor vehicle on today’s roads requires your complete attention. "There’s no doubt that negotiating a business transaction or having a domestic dispute while negotiating a turn is a significant driver distraction", she said.

At the present time, it is still legal in the United States to use a cell phone while driving. On the other hand, countries such as Brazil, Israel, and Italy have laws that ban the use of a cell phone while driving a motor vehicle. Police officials in Singapore will confiscate your cell phone if you are caught talking while driving. The closest thing we have to banning cell phone usage in the United States is in Washington State. They only permit the use of "approved headphones by motorists using hands-free wireless communications systems". However, hand held and non-hand held phones can both be a distraction to drivers. It is hoped that whenever here is an accident or reckless driving due to cell phone usage, police officers will add that to the report. Perhaps in the future the citizens of every state will soon realize the danger and pressure their legislators to pass laws banning cell phone usage while driving.

If the phone must be used while operating a motor vehicle, consider the following tips provided by insweb.com:

• Get to know the phone and its features such as speed dial and redial.
• When available, use a hands-free device, such as an earpiece or a phone cradle.
• Position your cell phone within easy reach.
• Let the person you are speaking with know your are driving. If necessary, suspend the call in heavy traffic or hazardous weather conditions.
• Do not take notes or look up phone numbers while driving.
• Dial sensibly and assess the traffic. If possible, place calls when you are not moving or before pulling into traffic.
• Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations that may divert your attention from the road.
• Dial 911 to report serious emergencies only. It is a free call from cell phones.
• Keep conversations short and sweet. Develop ways to et free of long-winded friends and associates while on the road. Don’t use the cell phone for social visiting while you drive.
• Hang up in tricky traffic situations--without warning if necessary. You can explain later-- because you will still be alive.

Although cell phones are a great product and a wonderful convenience, they can be distracting and very dangerous. Studies indicate a growing number of cell phone-related accidents. a driver is both physically and mentally distracted when using a cell phone while driving, which is dangerous enough without this additional hazard. With the enormous growth in the popularity of cell phones in the car, perhaps it is time for lawmakers to step in to help ensure the safety of the public.

http://www.insweb.com

http://www.zdnet.com

http://www.swmed.edu

http://www.onr.com

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov