Haryobimo Arief Alexander

February 11, 2011

The bad correlation between any cell phone use and driving

Texting, making phone calls and any types of cell phone use while driving might be the most dangerous combination that least people could imagine.

Firstly, my own personal experience suggests that texting while driving can easily put your and other people surrounding us on danger. I nearly crashed a motorcyclist while sending a message through a phone, fortunately my younger sister was there to remind me that there was an intersection up ahead, and I had to immediately hit the brake. I believe this incident did not only happen to me, because it is quite easily seen that people tend to still use their mobile phone while driving, and I also have to feel blessed that I still have my sister on my side at that time. According to Eby & Kostinyuk (2003), the main driver’s distraction that usually leads to an accident is when a driver has to dial or talk or text a cell phone. Many people underestimated the risk of using cell phone while operating a vehicle, that is the main reason why there are still collisions caused by a single cell phone.

Secondly, there was once a series of Oprah Winfrey show that used ‘Distraction while driving’ as a topic, it discusses about the risk of using cell phone while driving. There were 2 people whose person they loved passed away caused by collisions involving cell phone. Oprah (2010) said that when people drive, it increases the likelihood of that person dies twice, when that person taking calls it multiples by 4, and when he text a message it doubles up to 8. Hands-free device is also as distracting as cell phone, because taking phones require a driver to listen to the person speaking through the phone, leaving the driver less likely to hear another driver's horn or an emergency siren, written in LaSpinna’s article (2010), taken from Dr. David Strayer’s study, professor of psychology at the University of Utah.

Lastly, there are numerous countries that banned the use of mobile phone while driving and fined in large amount. Also, according to Steitzer (2010), in almost 30 states in United Stated is strictly prohibited with mostly for those who does not have driving license. It is quite a disappointment for me though, because it should be restricted in all cases without exception. In September 2008, a Los Angeles commuter train conductor missed a red light while sending and receiving more than 40 text messages. The conductor and 24 others were killed, making it the second worst commuter train crash in U.S. history. The incident should have made everyone’s self-awareness to gain rapidly, but unfortunately it does not work that way to increase driver’s self-awareness.

In my opinion, when you have to dial, talk or text a message with a mobile phone is take your car to the side of the street. To endanger yourself and people around you, go drive a car while using your cell phone.

Reference:

Eby, D & Kostinyiuk, L. May 2003. Driver Distraction And Crashes: An Assessment of Crash Databases and Review of the Literature. (Online), Retrieved February 10, 2011

LaSpina, J. March 22, 2010. Texting and driving: Studies show an increase in car accidents due to cell phone use. (Online). Retrieved February 9, 2011

Oprah.com. January 15, 2010. America's New Deadly Obsession (Online) Accessed on February 10, 2011

Steitzer, S. July 14, 2010. Texting while driving ban, other new Kentucky laws take effect today (online) The Courier-Journal. Retrieved February 10, 2011