Cell Phones and Driving Don’t Mix
In today’s technologically advanced world, pretty much everyone has a cell phone. They are attached to them wherever they go at all times.
With such an affinity for staying connected, it comes as no surprise that sometimes you have to talk on your phone while driving. Everyone has done it at some point, with many people doing it frequently. In fact, many people save their phone calls until they are driving just so because it’s more convenient.
Although, it may be the norm, did you realize that it’s actually not very good for your health? In fact, it is one of the most dangerous things that you could do in a car.
What is so bad about talking on your cell phone in the car?
According to a recent three-year study, talking on your cell phone while driving is the equivalent of driving while drunk. While you might not think you’re out of it while on a cell phone, you are just as impaired mentally.
The study found that someone talking on a cell phone is the equivalent of having at least the legal blood alcohol limit of .08%. This is startling when you actually think about the effect that it can have on you.
Many people might think that they are ok because they use a hands-free device or a speakerphone. However, according to the study, you’re just as bad as if you didn’t. Those with hands-free devices were just as impaired as those with regular cell phones.
The study found that those with cell phones were 9% slower to hit the brakes than a normal driver. They were also 19% slower to resume normal speed again once they have slowed down. They also had a 24% higher variation in the distance that they followed other drivers.
Why is this? Their minds would go from driving to talking and back again and their driving reflected it. The biggest thing that they found was that cell phone users are more likely to crash than their non-cell phone using counterparts. That is a pretty telling set of statistics right there. The fact that you can actually increase your risk of crashing just by talking on your cell phone is pretty scary.
A growing problem…
The really scary thing to think about is that at any given moment, there are over 1 million people talking on their cell phones and driving in the United States. So what can be done about this growing problem?
First of all, legislation has taken notice to this concern and has addressed it in several areas. For example, certain states including California and New York have banned talking on the phone while driving. In addition to states doing this, several countries have banned the practice as well.
Besides the government outlawing it, the easiest way to stop it is to realize that it is a problem. You can choose not to use a cell phone while you’re driving and it will help you in the long run. Individual people need to make that decision for themselves.
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Filed under: Safety
I have to agree with this article the amount of people that talk and drive is scary, these people have no clue the dangers that they are causing. It is these people that cause the most accidents. I just don’t understand why they cant get car kits or use their phones via blue tooth. Until something bad happens to these people they will never learn
I wish people realize how dangerous cell phones and driving really are. I guess we will wake up sooner or later.