Cell Phone Ban on Operators of Motor Vehicles by- Sarah Alsaid

Cell Phone Ban on Operators of Motor Vehicles

By Sarah Alsaid -

Did you know that 60% of drivers use cell phones while driving? (2011, Harris Poll) Or maybe that using a cell-phone delays a driver's reaction as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent? (2009, university of Utah) After years of studies, research is finally beginning to show a new study about the effects of distractions like a cell phone while driving. How massive the consequence can be for just one text. Or maybe the lack of two hands on the steering wheel, to talk on the phone with the other. Statistics are on the rise and if action isn't taken they will continue increasing. Likely, it should be illegal for motor vehicles to use cell phone for any use while driving. Endangering other peoples' lives and the lack of focus are crucial reasons this law should be put in force.

Initially, there should be a law stating one can't use a cell phone while driving because of the risk it puts on other drivers'. Its one thing for someone to make the decision to put their own life on the line, but when one chooses to put another's life in jeopardy that is just ridiculous. We shouldn't have the ability to take ones precious life by our recalcitrant behavior. For the past 10 to 15 years cell phone users have increased and surely the increase in numbers of distracted drivers' is a consequence. Nowadays, it would be realistic to say that cell phones are a necessity in our lives. We take them everywhere we go and hold on to them like our most sacred possession. Their use has become so great and when they fall or we can't find them our heart starts racing and we start to panic. Likely, our attachment to them has almost become like an addiction. So when were in the car driving it's almost impossible to hold our desires for replying to text we just acquired, or tweeting about the slow driver in front of us. But what we don't understand is that those five seconds we look at our phone might be the cause of our death. Or in some cases other drivers. For instance, many might be familiar with the harrowing story of Patrick Sims. He was driving with his girlfriend, replying to a friend when he hears a scream come from aside. This 18-yearold boy killed a bicyclists' from texting three letters- "lol". Likely, no text can be worth any life. Thus, using a cell phone while driving a motor vehicle should be illegal because of the risk it puts on other drivers,

In addition, the lack of focus it puts on drivers is a very vital reason this act should become illegal. When driving, it is very important to have all of our attention on the road. Surely, some will put up an argument that they can multi-task but in reality that's false. David Strayer, a psychology professor at the University of Utah renders that "only 2% of humans are safely able to multitask while driving". Surely this 2% is probably a pilot who has been trained to steer colossal planes while manipulating computer devices. When we are using our cell phones while we drive we lack half of the attention that's needed to drive. In most studies texting has been associated with driving under the influence because of the decrease in reaction time it puts on the brain, but really texting is more dangerous. This is because when driving under the influence ones vision and judgment is impaired, but when one is texting their vision isn't even on the road. Using a cell phone whether it is to check ones stocks or update ones status sounds as dumb as reading a book while you drive. Although, in any of those cases, the second one's eyes are taken off the road they become a victim of manual, cognitive and visual distraction. Their mind is suddenly disengaged from the task of driving. In other instances where hands- free devices are involved, where as the common assumption is mitigated, the risks are still the same. Talking to someone on Bluetooth is almost like talking to someone sitting next to you. Except in this case, the even if one is staring ahead at the road they may not really be looking at the road. They might actually be picturing what this person might be doing or where they might be. Also, since the person is directecting their attention to sound, their visual capacity of the brain decreases, causing the lack of attention on the road. Hence, cell phone devices whether hands -free or not shouldn't be used while driving because of the distraction they put on the driver.

In summation, because of the danger it puts on other drivers is a reason why cell phone use while driving should be illegal. Also, because of the attention it takes away from the driver is another crucial consequence of this action. Even though we have become so attached to these devices, those minutes in the car when we are trying to reach our destination should not be manipulated by our desires. Those few words written in the text message shouldn't have the ability to take our life. In a poll taken by a group of teens 22% who drive while distracted say it makes driving less boring. (2010, AAA and Seventeen Magazine) Likely, if that's how they feel every recalcitrant action comes with a brutal consequence, that they must live up to.