Featured Safety Issues
Safety Articles:
“The Dangers of Cell Phone Use While Driving,” Bradford K. Goodwin, July 2008.
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The Dangers of Cell Phone Use While Driving
Text messaging or talking on cell phones while driving is on the rise. This conduct is dangerous, especially for young drivers who, with their inexperience and sense of invulnerability, have an increased chance of causing an accident when they drive while text messaging or talking.
In 2007, five girls who had just graduated from high school in upstate New York died when their SUV veered in front of an oncoming semi-truck. Investigators found that a text message had been sent from the driver’s phone just minutes before the crash, and a text message response was received less than a minute before a witness who was following the SUV made a 911 call.
A now famous series of studies conducted by Frank Drews and David Strayer at the University of Utah found that when people drive while using a cell phone their level of impairment is the same as when they drive while under the influence of alcohol. The study states,
“Just like you put yourself and other people at risk when you drive drunk, you put yourself and others at risk when you use a cell phone and drive. The level of impairment is very similar.” (News Link 1): and (News Link 2).
The University of Utah study also showed that hands-free cell phones are just as distracting to drivers as hand-held cell phones because it’s the conversation itself, not just manipulation of a hand-held phone that distracts drivers. According to the researchers at the University of Utah, this finding, “calls into question driving regulations that prohibit hand-held cell phones and permit hand-free cell phones.”
Text messaging is even more dangerous than talking on a cell phone because the driver’s eyes are diverted away from the roadway for significant periods of time.
What’s even more concerning is that the prevalence of cell phone use while driving continues to increase dramatically. The cell phone industry has reported that text messaging increased 95% between 2005 to 2006 (TechNewsWorld.com Story). It can be concluded that text messaging while driving has also increased dramatically. In one study, 13% of teen drivers admitted to text messaging while driving, while the American Automobile Association has reported that the number may actually be as high as 46%. (AAA Safety Article)
THE LAW – Restrictions on Cell Phone Use
A useful list of cell phone laws by state can be found at:
GHSA Link. Because this is a rapidly changing area of law, you should check directly with your local government to determine the current state of the law in your area.
In New Mexico there is no state law restricting use of cell phones while driving. However, the State of New Mexico allows cities and municipalities to impose restrictions on cell phone use. As of July 2008, only a few cities and towns in New Mexico had banned cell phone use while driving. The New Mexico cities that have outlawed some cell phones use while driving include Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos.
In Albuquerque, use of hand-held cell phones while driving is against the law. In Albuquerque, it’s also against the law to create, send, or read text messages while driving. The penalty for a first conviction of illegal cell phone use while driving is $100.00 in Albuquerque and all subsequent convictions have a fine of $200.00. The Albuquerque law can be viewed in Section 8-2-1-24 of the Traffic Code of the Ordinances for the City of Albuquerque.
At the present time, there is no cell phone ban in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
We should make it clear to teenagers and young drivers that use of cell phones while driving is unsafe and dangerous regardless of whether or not it’s against the law. We must all start viewing text messaging and talking on cell phones while driving as socially unacceptable behavior, just like other types of reckless driving and drunk driving.
Adults should try to set an example by not using cell phones while driving. When adults use cell phones while driving it’s not only dangerous according to the University of Utah study, but it is also sets a bad example to young drivers. If you must make or take a call, pull over and park. If you must use your cell phone while driving, limit the length of your call to necessary information and don’t engage in casual conversations. And never text message while driving.
Contact your state and local representatives to request enactment of laws and ordinances which not only outlaw hand-held cell phone use and text messaging, but also outlaw hands-free devices while driving. The University of Utah study concluded that hands-free phones are just as dangerous as hand-held phones.
We might also consider passing laws that at the very least impose a complete ban on all cell phone use for teenagers when sitting behind the wheel.
It would also be worthwhile to have our local police departments change their accident report forms to begin collecting data on cell phone use by drivers involved in accidents. Currently, the accident forms used by most police departments in New Mexico do not require any reporting of cell phone use by drivers in accidents. Collecting this data at the accident scene will be helpful to develop statistics on cell phone use while driving and accidents.