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Cellphones are just one of the many distractions facing drivers, but these devices are believed to be the cause of more than a thousand fatalities and crashes each year.
Researchers at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimate that cellphone use by drivers caused approximately 955 fatalities and 240,000 accidents in 2002. In addition, in spite of state laws banning the use of hand-held cellphones while driving, it appeared that the use of hands-free devices does not eliminate the risk of a crash.
Research shows that motorists talking on a cellphone are four times more likely to crash than other drivers, and are as likely to cause an accident as someone with a .08 blood alcohol level.
There are two dangers associated with driving and cellphone use, including text messaging. First, drivers must take their eyes off the road while dialing or reading and typing. Second, people can become so absorbed in their conversations that their ability to concentrate on the act of driving is severely impaired.
Since 2002, there are more cars on the road, and cellphone technology has advanced to the point where these devices allow users to do much more than just place calls; they can now surf the Web and create complicated documents all while driving a car. The data from NHTSA clearly shows that the use of cellphones and other distractions affects a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle and can have tragic consequences.
The NHTSA recommends that drivers never use wireless communication devices—whether or not they are hands-free—except in an emergency.
