Driving and Dialing

In the United States over 190 million people used cell phones as of June 2005, Increased reliance on cell phones has led to a rise in the number of people who use them while driving.

There are two dangers with driving and using a cell phone. First, drivers must take their eyes off the road while dialing.

Since the first law banning hand-held cell phone use while driving was passed in New York in 2001, there has been debate as to the exact nature and degree of hazard. At first safety experts focused on the problem as part of the larger one of driver distractions in general.

Now there is increasing evidence that the dangers associated with cell phone use outweigh those of other distractions. Safety experts also acknowledge that the hazard posed by cell phone conversations is not eliminated, and

A government study released in June 2005 indicates that the distraction of cell phones and other wireless devices was far more likely to lead to crashes than other distractions faced by drivers. Researchers tracked 100 cars and their drivers for a year and concluded that talking on cell phones caused far more crashes, near-crashes and other incidents than other distractions.

Many studies have shown that using hand-held cell phones while driving can constitute a hazardous distraction. What about a hands-free phone? Studies show the use of hands-free sets may even be worse.

A study from the University of Utah found that motorists who talked on hands-free cell phones were 18 percent slower in braking and An earlier University of Utah study by the same researchers found that drivers talking on hands-free cell phones were less likely to recall seeing pedestrians, billboards or other roadside features.

Cell phones play an integral role in our society. However, the convenience they offer must be judged against the hazards they pose. The number of state legislatures debating measures that address the problem of cell phone use while driving continues to rise. In May of the same year, the city of Chicago banned the use of hand held cell phones while driving. The U.S. is not the only country with laws about cell phone use while driving. As many as 40 other countries restrict or prohibit the use of driving and dialing.