Cell Phones While Driving? Just Say No!
The first accident, in July 2004, I was stopped at a red traffic light, preparing to make a right turn. I inched forward to see if the road was clear, and saw that there was a garbage truck headed through the intersection, coming the opposite direction. I decided to wait. The driver behind me was talking on her cell phone, and didn't realize that I had stopped, and ran into the back of my car.
We pulled into a gas station and assessed the damage. In this case, there was only minor damage to our cars. I had a scratch on my rear bumper, she had a scratch on her front bumper, and my rearview mirror had been knocked down. She apologized and admitted she had been on the phone and hadn't been paying attention. This accident didn't result in any major damage or injuries. I had a stiff neck and sore back (which lasted a few days) but was more worried about the other woman's condition - she was seven months pregnant and obviously shaken and concerned about her baby.
Given the circumstances, instead of calling the police, we took each other's information and went our separate ways. Taking care of her unborn baby was more important than my stiff neck or any minor vehicle damage. I never heard from her, but I hope that she and her baby are okay. Reflecting on this car accident, though, I cannot imagine any conversion being worth being distracted from driving and putting an unborn child at risk.
The second accident, in August 2004, was a little worse. I was on my way to work, again, and an SUV in the lane next to me decided to suddenly change lanes. I was slightly ahead of him, and noticed in my rearview mirror that he suddenly entered my lane, and swerved to miss him. I didn't swerve enough, though, and he slammed into the side of my car. I looked over at him, and in one hand, he had a cell phone, and in the other, he was steering, but had a piece of paper in his hand, which may have been directions somewhere - he may have been lost and calling for directions, but I am just speculating.
As I slowed and looked for a safe place to pull over, he sped off in the opposite direction. After I stopped, I got out and examined the damage to my car. It was dented in on the passenger side from the middle of the passenger side door all the way to the rear bumper. I didn't get a chance to see if there was any damage to the other driver's car, as he drove away too fast. Thankfully I wasn't injured, and I hope he wasn't either.
According to InjuryBoard.com, cell phone use while driving increases the risk of collision. In their report, posted by David Mittleman, it says, "Numerous studies and articles point to the dangers of cell phone use while driving. Motorists who use cell phones tend to be more distracted and less aware of the traffic conditions surrounding them."
This is backed up by data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. In their FAQ about Cellular Phone Use, they estimate that "25 percent of all police reported traffic crashes" are the result of driver distraction - one source of which is cellular phone usage.
Many drivers now opt to use hands-free devices, thinking that this is safer than holding the cell phone, but the NHTSA says that even this still does not alleviate the cognitive distraction posed by using a cell phone while driving, causing the driver to miss audio and visual cues.
Given this information, why would you use a cell phone while driving? Is any conversation you may be having important enough to risk your life, or endanger the lives of others who may be victims of your distracted driving? Since my two accidents, I have made it a policy to turn my cell phone off when I get in the car. With a world around me changing at 65 miles per hour (give or take, depending on the road), I don't think it's worth the risk.
Sources:
Cell phone use while driving increases risk of collision. David Mittleman, Injuryboard.com. Retrieved 11 Apr 2008.
NTHSA Policy and FAQs on Cellular Phone Use While Driving. NHTSA.dot.gov. Retreived 11 Apr 2008
Published by Andrea Caruso
I'm 30 years old, married 5 years, mom of a two year old girl. I'm a graduate of the University of Central Florida (Liberal Studies w/ concentrations in Computer Science, Art, and Psychology) and Full Sail U... View profile
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