| Mobile phone use in motor vehicles has increased at a | | | | motor vehicle. In light of the ongoing research for, |
| remarkable rate over the past 15 years. Yet it is | | | | and by, the National Highway Traffic Safety |
| undeniable that utilizing a cell phone while driving can | | | | Administration ( we should at least consider their |
| affect driver performance as it relates to the overall | | | | policy on using cell phones while driving that states |
| safe operation of a vehicle. There are a number of | | | | "The primary responsibility of the driver is to operate |
| things to consider in deciding whether the trade off in | | | | a motor vehicle safely. The task of driving requires |
| convenience is worth the potential risks associated | | | | full attention and focus. Cell phone use can distract |
| with the distraction created by a cell phone. Given | | | | drivers from this task, risking harm to themselves |
| the fact that the individual driver (and/or business | | | | and others. Therefore, the safest course of action is |
| owner) ultimately pays for the resulting | | | | to refrain from using a cell phone while |
| consequences associated with an auto or truck | | | | driving."Source: Cellular Telecommunications & Internet |
| accident (financial, emotional and physical lose); it is | | | | Association (CTIA)According to the CTIA, there are |
| prudent to seek out relevant and reliable information | | | | currently more than 218 million subscribed cell phone |
| in making a decision. In doing so, consider the source, | | | | users as of August 2006 (compared to some 4.3 |
| as well as the possible motivation behind the | | | | million in 1990). Based on the extraordinary growth of |
| information provider.Source: US LegislationIn the | | | | cellular phone industry and the CTIA's advisory role, it |
| United States, there are currently no federal laws | | | | may be of value to think about their point of view |
| prohibiting driving while using a cell phone. In an | | | | on this topic. In doing so, you might consider a |
| earnest attempt to find a solution, some states (New | | | | document found on the CTIA's web site, entitled |
| Jersey, New York, the District of Columbia, | | | | "SafeDrivingTalkingPoints2" (created June 6, 2006) |
| Connecticut and pending in California) have passed | | | | that states "But for some reason, legislative efforts |
| laws barring hand-held cell phone use while driving. | | | | to prevent driver distractions have been narrowly |
| Typical fines range from $50 to $100 for drivers | | | | focused on wireless phone use. According to |
| caught using a hand-held device. While these | | | | government statistics and respected research |
| lawmakers have the public's best interest at heart by | | | | studies, this approach is well off point." Consider that, |
| levying fines, not all entities weighing in on this | | | | there are more than 220 million vehicles on the road |
| subject are likely to have the same incentive.Source: | | | | and a similar number of cell phones subscribers. Based |
| Manufacturer ResearchAs the result of an | | | | on the amount of time customers might potentially |
| independent study (found on their web site in the | | | | spend using their cell phones in vehicles, we would |
| form of a press release), Plantronics, a manufacturer | | | | hope to find the CTIA an objective source. Given the |
| of headsets states, "71% of drivers steer more | | | | magnitude of the revenue at stake, is a greater |
| accurately when using a headset with a mobile | | | | degree of scrutiny in order here? Would the CTIA |
| phone". They point out that the study was to | | | | hold a different position if they were liable, in part, |
| discover if a person using a mobile phone improves | | | | for distracted vehicle accidents?Source: Leading |
| driving if he or she uses a headset. Stephen Wilcox, | | | | Universities & Independent ResearchersWhile there |
| Ph.D., Principal of Design Science (independent | | | | are a number of valuable studies on this subject, the |
| research firm) states, "Driving with both hands on the | | | | following are extensive research projects provided |
| wheel is the safest option for motorists who use | | | | by highly accredited organizations:1) Virginia Tech |
| mobile phones, and headsets are tools to enable that | | | | Transportation Institute researchers and the National |
| improvement." Considering the source, is this | | | | Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) |
| statement characteristic of scientific research? Is it | | | | tracked 100 cars and their drivers for a year; they |
| objective and free of marketing bias? Could it | | | | discovered that talking on cell phones caused more |
| confuse individuals into thinking that cell phones are | | | | crashes, near-crashes and other incidents than other |
| safe as long as you are hands-free? Additionally, | | | | distractions (100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study, April |
| found toward the end of the press release, is a | | | | 2006).2) University of Utah researchers determined |
| comment by a senior director of product marketing. | | | | that motorists on the blood-alcohol threshold of being |
| Beth Johnson states, "It's important to keep in mind | | | | legally drunk were able to drive better than sober cell |
| that our study is not intended to address the issue | | | | phone using drivers. A key researcher and author in |
| of whether or not it is safe to talk on a mobile | | | | this field, Psychology Professor David Strayer notes, |
| phone while driving, but rather what type of | | | | "Just like you put yourself and other people at risk |
| technology is safest for drivers to use while talking | | | | when you drive drunk, you put yourself and others |
| on their mobile phones". They also state their intent is | | | | at risk when you use a cell phone and drive. The level |
| to "educate drivers on options for using mobile | | | | of impairment is very similar." Also, consider they |
| phones comfortably and responsibly while driving". | | | | found motorists to be more accident-prone and |
| Given that the goal is safety education, is this | | | | slower to react when talking on cellular telephones. It |
| research responsibly comprehensive to consider it a | | | | did not matter if it was hands-free either because of |
| relevant and reliable source?Surely, as you go about | | | | "inattention blindness", a syndrome that makes a |
| your own assessment the idea of freeing up both | | | | driver less able to process visual information.3) The |
| hands to control the steering wheel is a logical | | | | George Institute for International Health (University |
| consideration. If a driver focuses exclusively on | | | | of Sydney, Australia), Insurance Institute for Highway |
| driving the vehicle, then two hands on the wheel is | | | | Safety (Arlington, Virginia) and Injury Research |
| better than one. Unfortunately, this seemingly | | | | Centre, University of Western Australia (Crawley |
| sensible approach can lead to a false sense of driver | | | | Australia) jointly presented research entitled "Role of |
| security (possibly increasing crash risk) as noted in | | | | mobile phones in motor vehicle crashes resulting in |
| various reports ( by the Crash Investigation Team at | | | | hospital attendance: a case-crossover study". The |
| Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Public | | | | research consisted of 456 drivers aged 17 years who |
| Safety. Their findings illustrated that the cognitive | | | | owned or used mobile phones and had been involved |
| resources required to carry on a phone conversation | | | | in road crashes requiring hospital attendance between |
| are equivalent to those necessary to drive. This is an | | | | April 2002 and July 2004. They concluded that a |
| important concern given VCU's history of | | | | driver who uses a mobile phone (up to 10 minutes |
| transportation safety research, as well as other | | | | prior to a crash) has a four times higher likelihood of |
| studies concluding this behavior (carrying on a phone | | | | crashing and an increased likelihood of a crash |
| conversation while driving), reduces both driver | | | | resulting in injury. Using a hands-free phone is not any |
| reaction time and driver attentiveness, especially as | | | | safer.Eliminate the Risk & Keep the BenefitsIf you |
| they relate to braking.Unlike a computer, humans | | | | are the head of a household, a guardian or the |
| have a limited capacity to process simultaneous | | | | parent of a less experienced driver, your decision to |
| information. If the software on your computer | | | | allow any in-vehicle cell phone use carries a major |
| seems to slow down, you might consider increasing | | | | emotional and financial risk. If you are a fleet |
| the memory or processor speed to compensate for | | | | manager or you employ individuals that conduct |
| delays resulting from an overload in computing | | | | work-related conversations while driving, the risk of |
| capacity. We as humans have a similar limitation when | | | | liability for distracted accidents could fall on you. |
| it comes to processing too much information, but | | | | Strongly consider the legal ramifications for the |
| unlike computers, our resources are somewhat fixed. | | | | careless operation of an employee-owned or |
| Given the inherent delays in our own thought | | | | company-supplied vehicle before deciding to ignore |
| response time when faced with increased load | | | | the inherent danger created by a major cognitive |
| factors, is it practical or safe to hold a cell phone | | | | distraction such as a cell phone.Obviously, there are |
| conversation while driving a motor vehicle?Source: | | | | no easy or certain solutions without sacrifice of |
| Government Transportation Safety ResearchThe US | | | | convenience. Remember that the benefit of having a |
| government employs many of the top transportation | | | | cell phone (emergency use and times when you are |
| safety experts and funds a major portion of the | | | | not operating a vehicle) is not lost just because it |
| world's accident prevention research. Given the | | | | remains off while driving. If you consider the facts |
| effects traffic accidents and related congestion have | | | | presented by relevant and reliable sources, it really is |
| on US productivity, accident reduction is a top | | | | not a matter of a trade off after all, but an |
| priority. Considering that distracted driving accounted | | | | opportunity to prevent an accident or possibly a |
| for at least 6.4 percent of crash fatalities in 2004 | | | | fatality. In the mean time, until it is proven otherwise, |
| (U.S. Department of Transportation), many | | | | think about instigating a life saving strategy NOW for |
| researchers are looking closely at the distinguishing | | | | the safe use of cell phones - limit yourself, loved |
| distraction caused by cell phone use in vehicles. | | | | ones and employees to use (personal and business) |
| Furthermore, of the many potential distractions in a | | | | only when the vehicle is in park!Gary S. Rothstein is |
| vehicle, cell phones are considered equally or more | | | | the President of Mobile Awareness, a company which |
| dangerous than the other known distractions such as | | | | designs and markets vehicle safety products. |
| eating, reading a map or grooming while operating a | | | | |