Running Head: Using Cell Phones while Driving Topic: Should Regulations Regarding the Use of Cell Phones while Driving be standardized? Moniqa Brown

Topic: Should Regulations Regarding the Use of Cell Phones while Driving be standardized?

Moniqa Brown

ENG215- Research and Writing

Professor- Holly Sprinkler

November 07, 2015

Topic: Should Regulations Regarding the Use of Cell Phones while Driving be standardized?

Problem Statement

Introduction

Mobile phones are communication tools whose usage and growth has increased vastly in the past few years. The spread of their applications has not only increased at an individual level but also in various industries and fields. Cell phones have now become part of human beings existence to a point every single person owns one and cannot operate effectively without the device in their vicinity. This has therefore been noticed even in the transportation industry where motorists are continuously using the cell phones while driving. This usage has allowed people to try and develop some regulations that are aimed at drawing the line in the cell phone use and driving. As a result, endless debates have been held regarding the issue but no clear standards have been set on exactly where the line is supposed to be drawn or rather to what extend a driver is supposed to use their mobile phones while on the road. The people who advocate for the standardization of the rules of using cell phones while driving claim that this behavior is associated with numerous risks being experienced today. These include collisions, destruction of properties, injuries to the driver or to other motorists and other hazards.

Thesis: “regardless of the application of cell phones as tools of communication, their usage should be appropriately regulated in situations where they pose danger to other people. Studies have indicated that using cell phones while driving is a major contributor of various accidents happening around the world. This is one of the environments where the usage demands regulations.”

Overview of the Problem

Using cell phones while driving and the risks associated with this behavior is not a habit that has been experienced in the past. In the 1980s, the use of phone cars was an existing phenomenon but its popularity is not comparable to the situation today. Research has indicated that today especially in America, 91 percent of the people use a cell phone or they own one. Out of this value, a large percentage use the mobile phones while driving. Medical studies have revealed that the human brain is not able to coordinate the movement of the vehicle while simultaneously having a conversation through the mobile phone. This implies that the driver ends up losing the speed stability, being able to drive on one lane and decision making is also affected. This is based on the fact that speaking and listening take considerable portions of human brain and when applied along other activities, distractions are likely to occur.(White, Eiser, & Harris, 2004)

In the past years, the trend of cell phone growth was that these devices were decreasing in size. This happened for some time but this has changed in the modern world. The cell phones have started becoming slightly larger than previous models with sophisticated applicability. This means that today cell phones are not only being used to make calls but to access the internet and using online chat applications while driving. This brings about a more dangerous behavior of texting while driving which is worse than making calls. This is because when a person is texting, their eyes are taken off the road completely and for the few seconds the driver has no view of what is happening in front of him. This therefore presses the need for the standardization of the laws concerning using these devices on the road.

Major Problems

Using cell phones while driving is a major social problem that is facing the society today. As mentioned earlier, the mobile phones today have various applications most of which require almost 100 percent attention of their users. The problem of these phones is therefore very common among the youth. Today people can access any information and connect with anyone using cell phones. Due to the various chat rooms, texting is a major form of communication among the young generation. In the standardization of the laws, the young people must be the main focus because studies have shown that they are the most affected victims of the distractions on the road due to cell phone usage.(Caird, Willness, Steel, & Scialfa, 2008)

Regardless of the age of the driver, another major problem in the use of cell phones is the disruptions that the driver is likely to cause or encounter. For instance, making a call requires a series of actions such as reaching for the cell phone, searching the contact to dial and lifting the device and placing it near the ear for the conversation to occur. All these activities among others are major causes of commotions to the driver. In the slight moment of distraction, an undesired event may occur which is dangerous to the driver and also to other motorists.

Driving requires full attention and concentration emotionally and physically. When this does not happen, occurrences that are not anticipated may occur. For instance, while driving the driver is supposed to place the two hands on the steering wheel with the eyes on the road and the surrounding. When the driver uses one hand on the wheel while taking the cell phone, the results could be deadly. In addition to this, the emotional communication can also be a major cause of the driver losing focus hence the need for rules to be devised.(Strayer & Johnston, 2001)

Conclusion

Due to the problems stated above, there should be a total ban on the use of cell phones while driving. The laws should be standardized and accepted in all the regions around the world. Any person spotted using the mobile device while driving should face a very severe penalty because of putting the lives of other motorists in danger. This is the only solution that can be used to solve this menace that is causing a large percentage of accidents today.

References

Caird, J. K., Willness, C. R., Steel, P., & Scialfa, C. (2008). A meta-analysis of the effects of cell phones on driver performance. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 40(4), 1282–1293. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2008.01.009

Strayer, D. L., & Johnston, W. A. (2001). Driven to Distraction: Dual-Task Studies of Simulated Driving and Conversing on a Cellular Telephone. Psychological Science, 12(6), 462–466. http://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9280.00386

White, M. P., Eiser, J. R., & Harris, P. R. (2004). Risk Perceptions of Mobile Phone Use While Driving. Risk Analysis, 24(2), 323–334. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.0272-4332.2004.00434.x