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