| Cell phones are a huge part of our lives these | | | | their attention off the road.Many states and cities |
| days. Everyone seems to have a cell phone | | | | are continuously trying to get laws passed which |
| because they make everything so much more | | | | will ban the use of cell phones in the car. Some |
| convenient. The problem that we are facing with | | | | places have already passed laws, such as |
| cell phones though, is how many car accidents | | | | Connecticut, New Jersey and Chicago. Connecticut |
| they are causing.In the United States there are | | | | drivers are fined $100 for using the cell phone |
| over 210 million people that use cell phones. People | | | | while driving, as well as doing other things such as |
| are relying on them more and more. Because of | | | | putting on makeup or disciplining children in the car. |
| all the car accidents associated with cell phone | | | | New Jersey fines people $100 to $250 for using |
| use, we must decide whether this convenience is | | | | the phone.Even businesses that do most of their |
| really worth it in the car.When drivers use the cell | | | | work by phone are prohibiting their workers from |
| phone in the car, there are two big problems. | | | | using phones in the car. Many businesses now |
| First, you have to take your eyes off the road to | | | | have policies in effect that require their |
| dial. Second, cell phone conversations can be so | | | | employees to get off the road to make business |
| absorbing that you lose the ability to concentrate | | | | calls.There are at least 40 countries today that |
| on driving. This is very dangerous and jeopardizes | | | | restrict or ban using the cell phone while driving. |
| the safety of everyone in and around the car.In a | | | | These countries include Austria, Australia, Brazil, |
| study done in April 2006, it was found that 80% | | | | Belgium, Chile, Botswana, Denmark, Finland, Egypt, |
| of car crashes involved the driver not paying | | | | France, Greece, Germany, India, Ireland, Hungary, |
| attention right before the accident. The most | | | | Israel, Japan, Italy, Kenya, Jordan, Malaysia, |
| common cause of these distractions is cell phones. | | | | Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, the Philippines, |
| Drowsiness was the second biggest distraction. | | | | Romania, Portugal, Singapore, Russia, Slovenia, the |
| Other distractions include eating, talking, attending | | | | Slovak Republic, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, |
| to children and putting on makeup. People that talk | | | | Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkmenistan, |
| on the phone and drive at the same time are | | | | Turkey, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic |
| four times more likely to get into an accident that | | | | and Zimbabwe. Most of these countries totally |
| is bad enough to cause injury.In another study, it | | | | ban the use of cell phones while driving. In France, |
| was found that drivers who talked on hands-free | | | | the United Kingdom and the Netherlands drivers |
| phones were slower to brake by 18% and took | | | | are allowed to use phones, but if they are in an |
| longer to get their speed back after they braked. | | | | accident they will be fined.As more and more |
| Also, drivers on hands-free phones could not | | | | places put bans on cell phones, drivers need to be |
| remember seeing billboards, pedestrians, or other | | | | aware that they are a serious danger to use |
| things by the road. So, just because the phone is | | | | while driving. If you must make a call it is best if |
| hands-free, it still isn't safe to use while driving. | | | | you pull off the road and make your call from the |
| People using hands-free cell phones still have to | | | | side of the road. That will keep you and everyone |
| concentrate on the conversation, which takes | | | | around you safer. |