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