Against Cell Phone Use While Driving

Sylmarie Nunez-LunaSection 7

Banning of Cell Phone UseBanning of Cell Phone Use In the U.S In the U.S

• The following 9 states in the U.S. have banned talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving– California,

Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah, and Washington

• Text messaging is banned in 30 states and the District of Columbia.

Cell Phone Use vs. Cell Phone Use vs. Driving Under the Driving Under the

InfluenceInfluence• According to the researchers at the University of Utah, driving while using a cell phone is similar to the risk associated with driving with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit.

Study: Cell Phone Study: Cell Phone Drivers vs. Intoxicated Drivers vs. Intoxicated

DriversDrivers• The purpose of this study was to compare the

effects that using a cell phone and consuming alcohol have on overall driving performance.

• The experiment was done in a controlled laboratory setting.

• A high-fidelity driving simulator was used in order to make a comparison between both driving situations.

Participant talking on a cell phone while using the driving simulator

Results of the Study: Results of the Study: Cell Phone DriversCell Phone Drivers

• When the drivers used a handheld or hands-free phone, their reactions when braking were not as quick as when they were not distracted by a phone.

• As a result, these drivers were involved in more traffic accidents than when they were not using a mobile device.

Results of the Study: Results of the Study: Drunk DriversDrunk Drivers

• Similarly, when they observed these drivers, they demonstrated a more aggressive driving style. Furthermore, they tended to follow the vehicle in front of them more closely and used more force while braking.

Conclusion of the StudyConclusion of the Study

• Even under controlled driving conditions, using a cell phone while driving was found to be just as dangerous as when driving intoxicated.

Dangers of Texting and Dangers of Texting and DrivingDriving

• The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute conducted an 18 month study involving long-haul truckers.

• The collision risk was 23 times greater when the drivers were texting.

This could happen to

you!

Fatal Texting AccidentFatal Texting Accident

• In 2008, an engineer of a California commuter train ran a red light.

• 25 people were killed• 135 others were injured• Why?

– The accident occurred because the operator was texting.

– He never hit his breaks.

Risk of Cell Phone Use Risk of Cell Phone Use in Our Own Statein Our Own State

• In Pennsylvania, there were 1,298 cell phone related accidents in 2008.

• 9 of those accidents resulted in death.

Don’t use your cell phones while

driving…

You could save a life, even yours!

SourcesSources• “Cell Phone Laws.” Highway Safety Research &Communications.

Oct 2010. Web. 14 Nov 2010.

<http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx>.

• Editors. “Engineer in Deadly LA Train Crash Was Texting.”

Washington Post Investigations. Oct 2010. Web. 14 Nov 2010.

<http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx>.

• Sachse, Anna. “Eyes On The Road.” The Philadelphia Inquirer.

7 May 2010. Web. 14 Nov 2010. <http://www.philly.com/philly/health_and_science/CTW_health_20100507_Eyes_on_the_road_.html>.

• Strayer, David, Frank Drews, and Dennis J. Crouch.

“A Comparison of the Cell.” Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver.” Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

4 March 2005. Web. 14 Nov 2010.

<http://www.hfes.org/Web/PubPages/celldrunk.pdf>.