Final Research Paper

Is A Phone Call Worth Risking Your Life?

Drivers continue to make our roads unsafe on a daily basis. While drunk driving is still considered the worst decision a driver can make, new studies show that talking on a cell phone while behind the wheel can be just as risky as driving drunk. As cell phones continue to play a part in our lives many people find it difficult to avoid using their phones, either talking or texting, while driving a vehicle. Some feel that engaging in this hazardous behavior is no big deal. Many naive drivers feel that they are good enough behind the wheel and that they can handle texting while driving. This attitude is mainly found in novice drivers, but experienced drivers are also using cell phones on the road. Using a cell phone while driving is an unnecessary threat to yourself and others; a habit that I feel will require federal government involvement to truly influence a change. I intend on showing the dangers associated with this issue and to also provide support from experts who have performed studies on the topic. I will also provide reasons for my position that the United States needs federal policies regarding cell phone use while driving.

The definition of an automobile, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, states that an automobile is “usually a four-wheeled motored vehicle designed for passenger transportation.” As technology advanced, automobiles became much more than that, though. Cassette players were the first type of entertainment that we enjoyed in our cars. Now vehicle interiors have reached new heights. Voice-activated music systems and dashboard video monitors that dictate turn-by-turn directions are just a few examples of the luxuries that appear in many new cars today. Many of these systems aim to improve safety issues and decrease distraction, but it is still technological devices that we use every day that are creating the most concern for safety.

The first point I’d like to address is the dangers associated with this topic. Why do some of us fail to see that texting or conversing on a cell causes distractions that endanger our lives and the lives of others? The issue has been the focus of many recent studies that attempt to demonstrate the dangers of cell phone use while driving. One such study entitled “The impact of cell phones on motor vehicle fatalities” that was performed by Peter Loeb and William Clarke and appeared in Applied Economics, dealt with the life saving vs. life-taking properties of cell phone use while driving. They examined data that dates back from the early 1980s to the present on crash fatalities. They also reviewed the number of people that had a cell phone subscribed in their name. Nationwide Insurance estimates that currently there are about 270 million cell phones in use in the U.S. More importantly, Nationwide also found that 78% of adults over 18 are both drivers and cell phone owners. Loeb and Clarke’s data showed that cell phones had once had a life-saving effect, but “as cell ownership exceeded 100 million, the life-taking effect surpassed the potential life-saving effect” (Loeb and Clarke 2). Their findings provides strong support for polices that could reduce cell phone use while driving.

I agree that cell phones can be used as safety devices in some situations, but they seem to pose too big of a threat while behind the wheel. While there are countless times when cell phones are used to contact emergency dispatchers, more people use cell phones for non-emergencies while driving. This excessive use has led to an increase in traffic accidents that cannot be ignored. According to a report on the website for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, “about 25-30% of accidents that occur are a result of driver error due to cell phone use” (AAAfoundation.org).

There are many out there who are attempting to come up with solutions to the problem. One answer to the problem that I would like to see implemented would be new government policies. But as I have found, cell phone use legislation has been met with strong resistance from cellular phone lobbyists. As is often the case, business interests often hold the most influence when it comes to pushing for legislation. Still, there are many out there that feel the same way I do on the issue. Another attempt to reduce the use of cellular use while driving is being promoted by Ira Leesfield and Richard Segal. These two attorneys have a logical plan that seems very practical and is one that I feel should be taken into consideration.

In their article entitled “Driving While on the Cell Phone: Punitive Damage Awards Should Come Through Loud and Clear” attorneys Leesfield and Segal realize that some states have mandated bans on cell phone use while driving, but the push for national reform has been met with opposition from cell phone companies looking out for their profits. They suggest that if it is impossible to stop the behavior with laws that prohibit the actions, which seems to be the case at this time, then maybe the courts should be involved in other ways. They advocate that “punitive damage” penalties be extended to accidents involving a driver who was using a cell phone. Similar laws apply to drunk driving offenders, where punitive damage laws attempt to deter the act and provide retribution. Leesfield and Segal believe that “like DWI, driving while on the cell phone is an intentional, voluntary behavior that unnecessarily endangers drivers, passengers, and pedestrians” (Leesfield and Segal 1).

I agree with the authors and feel that a driver on a cell phone has made the decision to do so, and if his/her actions cause an accident then he/she should be held responsible and stricter penalties should be enforced. Leesfield and Segal point out that it would be fairly easy to prove if the driver was using the cell phone at the time of the crash, because phone records show the time when calls are placed and also when data is sent or received in text messages. I’m not advocating for jail time, but heavy fines that make the act almost unaffordable would really make drivers evaluate their driving habits and hopefully deter the act of using a cell phone at the wheel.

Researchers aren’t just trying to inform lawmakers, they are actually attempting to create the push for action. While our country doesn’t have federal rules that apply to all highways and roads, some states do have laws in place that make the dangerous act of driving while on a phone illegal. Citations and tickets are given in at least 18 states, with some states even setting certain restrictions on school bus drivers. Many businesses that have company drivers have also made it illegal for their employees to talk on the phone or text while driving, both realizing the dangers of the act and covering themselves from lawsuits in the event of a crash caused by a driver using a cell phone. But companies aren’t the only ones putting this rule in place. In October, President Obama signed an executive order banning employees of the federal government from using cell phones while driving government vehicles. The ban also applies to the workers who use their own vehicles to conducting government business. A ban on cell phone use for all interstate truckers and bus drivers has also been presented but has not had the same support as other cell phone bans.

If the federal government requires it’s employees to kick the habit, shouldn’t there be federal laws that ban cell phone use while driving for everyone? Much like the federal programs that encourage smokers to quit, I believe we need federal intervention to get drivers to stop using cell phones while behind the wheel. I realize how important cell phones have become in our society. But as a driver, I am also seeing how cell phones pose a threat to myself and other drivers on the road. That’s why I encourage everyone to evaluate his or her driving habits and make changes that will put an end to this risky behavior. I hope the government will come up with ways to help us pay attention to the road and somehow effectively keep us off our phones while behind the wheel.

Works Cited

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Resources. Web. 17 Nov. 2009. http://www.aaafoundation.org/resources/index.cfm?button=links

Leesfield, I., and R. Segal. "Driving While on the Cell Phone: Punitive Damage Awards Should Come Through Loud and Clear. " The Brief 36.4 (2007): 58-62. Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 17 Nov. 2009.

Loeb, P., and W. Clarke. "The impact of cell phones on motor vehicle fatalities. " Applied Economics 41.22 (2009): 2905. ABI/INFORM Global, ProQuest. Web. 17 Nov. 2009.

Screenshot of Survey

I found it interesting that many people would like to see some sort of legislation in place that will stop drivers from texting. In these results, the respondents didn't want the government to take the cell phone out of drivers' hands completely, though. They support a ban, but only on texting.

Apostrophe Error

I didn't find this error out in a public place but instead in a weekly ad from Kroger.

Interview Photos

*Officer I interviewed requested not to be photographed.

Inside of police cruiser and their distractions

lack of focus due to texting

distracted mentally as well as

phone limiting hand use

Second Life

Second Life definitly has more lifelike qualities than other virtual worlds. From what I have seen, this "game/virtual world" attempts to mimic real-world events and daily occurences. Without a goal to strive for, such as collecting as many coins or reaching a certain level, it makes it more of a real world simulation. It has more instant "possibility space" than real life by means of teleportation and flying. But it cannot provide face to face interaction. Text and images alone do not provide the same quality of interaction that we experience in real life.

The name "Second Life" suggests that this virtual world is comparable to the lives we live everyday in real time. Users in the virtual world can explore, socialize, and exchange items with other users, much like we do in our daily lives. But there also implies a sense of freedom. In this world users can live a second, different life than the one they live in the real world. They may express themselves in ways that they wouldn't in the real world (clothing they wear, words they type, character appearance within the game). This double life may provide them a place to live a life they have always wanted, though it is just fantasy in the big picture.

What I Revised in Article Summary

There were a few changes I made after reading the comments. First, I realized that transitions between paragraphs needed to make more sense and smoothly lead into the paragraph. I reworded a few of the transitions in an attempt to ease the reading. I also realized that one of the questions that was presented in the beginning of the 3^rd paragraph was stated in a way that may have been confusing at first glance. I even had a hard time realizing what this question asked when I did a quick run-through of the paper, so I switched the wording so that it would be more general. In the 3^rd paragraph I also realized that I had left out the title of the article, so I added that. In the 4^th paragraph I reworded the findings of the research from the article. I had at first said “their article provides numerous statistics which helps support…” without describing how they presented the statistics. And lastly, in the conclusion I elaborated more on the legislative action I would suggest. In the rough draft I said that “I feel more legislative action is needed, including laws in this great state of Michigan…” without explaining what type of legislation that I feel this nation needs.

Academic Articles

Mike Fraser

10/3/09

ENG 106

Academic Articles Summary

I chose to investigate the topic of distracted driving, a danger that we put ourselves in everyday while we are in our vehicles. Numerous distractions can be present at any given time, but perhaps one that raises the most concern is talking, and even worse texting, while driving a vehicle. As technology increases, so do the risks for those on the road. Almost everyone I know owns a cell phone, and of those people, my guess is that more than a few have used it while behind the wheel. To aid in my study, I searched the library’s database for articles related to the issue of driving distracted. Almost instantly, I realized that my topic was one that raised concern from many different groups of specialists.

Cell phones are used by the young and the old, but it is often the case that young drivers don’t seem to recognize the hazards that cell phone use provokes while driving. In his article “Technology and Teen Drivers” which appeared in the Journal of Safety Research in 2007, John D. Lee suggests that young drivers, especially those just starting out, are more likely to interact with “infotainment systems,” as he describes them. The systems he refers to are cell phone messages, cell phone calls, and cd or mp3 player use while behind the wheel. Lee advocates that young drivers be more cautious with their driving habits because they most likely do not yet appreciate the same risks that experienced drivers do. “The early adoption of new technologies, along with risk-taking tendencies and poor ability to anticipate hazardous situations all leave young drivers particularly vulnerable to the distractions posed by the variety of infotainment systems.” He suggests that younger drivers need to be guided into the driver’s seat with more caution and supervision. He feels that stricter graduated licensing policies could deter risky behavior. “By limiting their exposure to young passengers, nighttime driving, and solo driving, teens could learn to drive safer and would be less likely to engage in otherwise problematic driving.” Although I disagree with his solutions to the problem, his article does serve it’s purpose of informing his readers of the dangers of distracted drivers, especially his teenage audience. I feel he also effectively reaches parents, hoping that they will examine their child’s driving habits and help to promote safer driving.

Young drivers aren’t the only ones who should change their driving habits, though. Cell phone use while driving has been an important issue for years. Do we need laws that say where talking on our cell phones should be allowed? Isn’t using a hands-free device safer than holding the phone up to your ear? The last question is the topic of the next article I read dealing with distractions in our vehicles. Since some states currently ban handheld phones while driving but allow for hands-free devices, I figured this article was appropriate. In an article that appeared in the Journal of Safety Research, Yoko Ishigami and Raymond Klein studied the differences of hands-free cell phone use and handheld cell phone use while driving. Their field study involved participants utilizing both types of cell phone devices in order to see if hands-free devices were actually safer. They found that there were insignificant differences in the data, pointing out that, “there was no attention advantage for the HF (hands-free) phone users over the HH (handheld) users.” They were able to show that using either device while driving will impair reaction time. I feel that their research is crucial because it challenges the laws that allow hands-free devices but ban handheld. All cell phone usage while driving is distracting, and I hope their article reached both drivers and lawmakers alike to change the way we drive.

The final article I chose to examine takes a close look at what changes in our mind and behavior when we distract ourselves with cell phones while driving. The article “Physiological and behavioral changes associated to the management of secondary tasks while driving” by Christian Collet and his colleagues, deals with the mental and behavioral processes that occur while driving distracted. Their article describes their study, in which sensors on the chest and fingertips recorded data during their testing. When presented with distractions, such as an incoming phone call, data revealed that the subjects’ heart rates slightly increased. They even found that reaction time (RT) increased 20% when the driver was preoccupied with a phone. Their article provides numerous statistics which helps support their claim that multi-tasking while driving can stimulate arousal and distraction. This article is an excellent source of information for those who feel driving and talking on a phone at the same time is not really a big deal.

These articles have provided me with useful insight on this topic. Cell phones have become so important in our lives that most of us can’t even put them down while driving. I feel more legislative action is needed, including laws in this great state of Michigan, to help drivers avoid engaging in distractions that can result in the taking of their life or the lives of others.

Works Cited

Collet, C., A. Clarion, M. Morel, A. Chapon, and C. Petit. "Physiological and behavioral changes associated to the management of secondary tasks while driving. " Applied Ergonomics 40.6 (2009): 1041. Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 3 Oct. 2009.

Ishigami, Y., and R. Klein. "Is a hands-free phone safer than a handheld phone?" Journal of Safety Research 40.2 (2009): 157. Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 3 Oct. 2009.

Lee, John D. “Technology and Teen Driver.” Journal of Safety Research 38.2 (2007): 203. Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 3 Oct. 2009.