FREE ESSAY ON CELL PHONE SAFETY

CELL PHONE SAFETY

The use of cellular phones has spread like wild fire in the last ten years. It has become
a part of everyday life for many American citizens, and a good number of people depend on
them to carry out daily operations. Unfortunately, many of these daily operations occur
while the individual is driving. As a result, many accidents have taken place in the last
ten years due to the use of cellular phones while on the road. This leads me to believe
that if people can't concentrate on the road while talking on a cell phone they shouldn't
talk at all while driving. Rather than restricting access, the goal should be to provide
in-vehicle information systems and safer means to using your cellular phone while
driving.
I understand that restricting cell phone usage while driving all together isn't the best
means to solving the problem. Many good aspects come from cellular use in the car. For
example, accidents get reported to 911 rapidly, traffic updates occur more often because
citizens call and report back ups, and drivers who need to be taken off the road because
of being intoxicated or just plain reckless will be located quicker and easier.
I do, however, believe that more safety precautions need to be taken for individuals who
will be talking on their phones while driving. Phones are being created by Erricson,
Motorolla, and Nokia today in which offer a hands-free cell phone so that you can keep
both hands on the wheel while driving and talking. Some of these come in the form of
headsets and give the user a voice activated sequence, which allows you to talk into the
speaker, and the number will instantly be dialed. All ready this has eliminated the
chance of your hands being off the wheel and depleted the act of dialing the phone. Both
which allow you to keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. One of the most
recent advancements in cellular technology comes from [Brightcell Technologies]. It is
called the Triflex Hands-free phone kit. The Triflex turns your cell phone into a
speakerphone. It works by plugging in a DC adapter to your car's cigarette lighter or
power outlet. You place your phone in the cradle of the kit and a special connector in
the base recharges your unit, saving battery power and converting your conversations into
speakerphone mode.
Because of inadequate reporting, there is insufficient data to show the magnitude of
safety problems relating to the use of cell phones. This is because only two states have
a section on accident reports dedicated to weather or not a cell phone was present in the
car at the time of the accident. Minnesota and Oklahoma are the two states in which have
received decent records on the safety related problems with cell phone use while driving.
In just one year the number of accidents relating to cell phone use increased in Oklahoma
by 26.5 %. Driver inattention is the most frequently identified factor among cellular
telephone users. The next most frequently noted conditions are failure to yield and
following too close. Based on these facts alone, it is easy to see that cellular phones
and driving don't mix to well. Until we have more safety features given to us that go
along with cell phones, we shouldn't mix the two.
In reading the website "An investigation of the Safety Implications of Wireless
Communications in Vehicles", I learned that the safety means necessary in achieving safe
driving while talking on the phone could be accomplished through the application of good
engineering and human factors design practice. The recommendations made were as follows:
Improving data collection and reporting, improving consumer education, initiating a broad
range of research to better define and understand the problem, addressing issues
associated with use of cellular phones from vehicles to access emergency services,
encouraging enforcement of existing state laws to address inattentive driving behavior,
and lastly, using the National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) and instrumented
vehicles to study optimal driver/vehicle interfaces. If the majority of these
recommendations were made, driving while using your wireless technology would be much
easier and safer. Many accidents could be spared if only the proper safety precautions
would be made.
In conclusion, because of the rapid growth and demand for cell phones many more accidents
are occurring daily. Cell phone use in cars serve some good purposes too and have become
a part of life to some individuals, so it's simple to see that we can't just ban them
from cars all together. But it doesn't mean that we can't take greater steps in the
advancement of safety features for wireless services in those same individual's cars. If
all of the recommendations made earlier took place, then people could definitely talk on
their phone while driving and be completely safe from their previous flaws in
inattentiveness.