Cell Phone Use While Driving

Cell phones are a huge part of our lives thesetheir attention off the road.Many states and cities
days. Everyone seems to have a cell phoneare continuously trying to get laws passed which
because they make everything so much morewill ban the use of cell phones in the car. Some
convenient. The problem that we are facing withplaces have already passed laws, such as
cell phones though, is how many car accidentsConnecticut, New Jersey and Chicago. Connecticut
they are causing.In the United States there aredrivers are fined $100 for using the cell phone
over 210 million people that use cell phones. Peoplewhile driving, as well as doing other things such as
are relying on them more and more. Because ofputting on makeup or disciplining children in the car.
all the car accidents associated with cell phoneNew Jersey fines people $100 to $250 for using
use, we must decide whether this convenience isthe phone.Even businesses that do most of their
really worth it in the car.When drivers use the cellwork 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 tohave policies in effect that require their
dial. Second, cell phone conversations can be soemployees to get off the road to make business
absorbing that you lose the ability to concentratecalls.There are at least 40 countries today that
on driving. This is very dangerous and jeopardizesrestrict or ban using the cell phone while driving.
the safety of everyone in and around the car.In aThese 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 payingFrance, Greece, Germany, India, Ireland, Hungary,
attention right before the accident. The mostIsrael, 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, attendingSlovak Republic, South Korea, South Africa, Spain,
to children and putting on makeup. People that talkSwitzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkmenistan,
on the phone and drive at the same time areTurkey, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic
four times more likely to get into an accident thatand Zimbabwe. Most of these countries totally
is bad enough to cause injury.In another study, itban the use of cell phones while driving. In France,
was found that drivers who talked on hands-freethe United Kingdom and the Netherlands drivers
phones were slower to brake by 18% and tookare 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 notplaces put bans on cell phones, drivers need to be
remember seeing billboards, pedestrians, or otheraware that they are a serious danger to use
things by the road. So, just because the phone iswhile 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 toside of the road. That will keep you and everyone
concentrate on the conversation, which takesaround you safer.