Cell Phone Usage While Driving: Equivalence to Drinking and Driving?

Everyone knows that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous, but most people think it will never effect them. I know this is what I always thought. I would often answer my phone or make quick calls while driving. I always tried to keep my calls to a minimum, but to be honest I would sometimes talk longer then I should thinking nothing would ever happen. I never expected that using a cell phone while driving would cause me to get in an accident, until it happened. Fortunately for me my accident wasn't a major accident, but it served as a huge wake up call to me as to the dangers of using a cell phone while driving.

The night of my accident I was on my way to a friends house. I had never been there before and I got lost. I called my friend to get better directions. I got the directions, but since I felt comfortable talking on the cell phone I continued to talk to my friend while I finished driving to her house. I never realized that talking on the phone so greatly impaired my driving. As I was talking to my friend I wasn't paying close enough attention to what I was doing. I didn't even notice a stop sign, I flew right though it. There was another car coming and I hit them. I was so scared, because of the shock of the accident. Then I started to worry if everyone would be okay. Fortunately for me I was going slow enough that nobody was seriously injured. I got out of the car to see what happened and the whole front of the other car was smashed, it looked terrible. All I could do was keep asking the people in the other car if they were okay. The driver kept assuring me that she was okay, I was so relieved that I hadn't hurt anybody.

The other driver and I traded information, and I continued to feel horrible that I could have seriously injured somebody. Both our cars were severely damaged. Fortunately I had insurance that covered most of it, but I had to pay the deductible. Not only was my car damaged, I was getting very bad headaches. I have started to go to a chiropractor for the whiplash that I experienced. Even though I have had to deal with several problems because of this accident I am very grateful that it wasn't more serious. I learned a very valuable lesson. I try to teach as many people as I can what I learned so they don't have to learn it firsthand.

I joined SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) at my college. Through SADD I have given many speeches for students and parents about how dangerous talking or texting on your cell phone while driving can be. I have done a lot of research on different studies that have been done on cell phone usage while driving. Using a cell phone while driving makes you four times as likely to get in a car accident. Teens are the also the age group that are the most affected by using a cell phone while driving. Many people think that using a hands free cell phone makes it safe to talk on while driving, but studies show that whether you have a hands free cell phone or a hand held talking on the phone while driving can be as dangerous as driving drunk. There are many people who would never drink and drive, that talk on their cell phone while driving without a second thought. Studies have shown then when drivers talk on a cell phone while driving their reaction time is much slower.

17 States have passed bans on driving while talking on a cell phone, I hope that the rest of the states are soon to follow. Until then parents need to take time to teach teens why driving and using a cell phone is so dangerous. Parents should set a good example for their teens, and never use their cell phone while driving. There are many places that offer classes for teens, so that they will take driving very seriously. SADD is a great program that help teens make better decisions. If you are a parent that needs help teaching your teen why using a cell phone while driving is so dangerous SADD.ORG is a great website that has many tips that can help.

Everyone needs to remember how serious driving is. Driving is a privilege and should be taken very seriously. Doing anything that distracts us while driving is very dangerous. There is no reason that we can't wait 10 or 15 minutes to take that call, waiting to use your cell phone just might save your life.