It goes without saying that cell phones have contributed so much in improving the lives Americans through communication. However, there seems to be a worrying trend where by more and more accidents are being caused as a result of people using their cell phones while driving. The national Transit Safety board in 20011 had called for a complete ban on the use of cell phones while driving. This was later opposed by the US secretary of transport saying that he issues of cell phones contributed to an insignificant figure when it comes to road accidents (Sturnquist, 2006). . However, it is becoming evident each day that the use us cell phones need to be banned country wide due to the reasons to be discussed in this paper.
According to the recent statistics, about 100,000 people are being seriously injured every year as a result of people driving while using their cell phones (Cain & Burris, 2000). . Driving while using a cell phone tends to distract the driver in three main ways; it makes the driver to take his eyes away from the road, makes the driver to take off his hand or hands from the steering wheel and also takes away his mind from the task at hand. When one uses a cell phone, either by texting or calling, his mind would wander into other thoughts related to what is happening in the conversation. This will in turn result in the driver getting destructed which is a definite recipe for an accident.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has released startling statistics in relation to using cell phones while driving. Their research shows that drivers who use their cell phones while driving would take their eyes off the road 5 out of every 6 seconds on average. This would mean that if a vehicle is driving at an average speed of 55 miles per hour, then the driver would be driving almost the length of a football field without looking at the road (Cain & Burris, 2000). This is the reason why something needs to be done immediately and the only way to curb this menace is to ban the use of Cell phones while driving countrywide.
Sturnquist, (2006) reckons that when a driver uses a cell phone while driving, their ability to notice read and encode road signs drastically reduces. Taking into consideration the fact that road signs play a vital part in ensuring road safety, this is a cause for alarm. This would mean that apart from endangering his own life, the driver would also be endangering the life of other road users. With a countrywide ban of cell phone use while driving, this would be a thing of the past.
The government needs to realize the fact that imposing a countrywide ban on the use of cell phones would go a long way in providing a direct and lasting solution to combating traffic mortality in the country. The law enforcement agencies and transport representatives ought to realize that they have the mandate to institute and impose this ban. We are ignoring a time bomb that would come to haunt the country even more in the near future. Imposing bans on selected regions with exceptions will do little in combating road carnage in the country. I with the right policies and good political will, this would not be a hard task for the government.
Works Cited
Cain, A., Burris, M., & University of South Florida. (2000). Investigation of the use of mobile phones while driving. Collingdale, Pa: DIANE Publ., Co.
International Debate Education Association. (2009). The debatabase book: A must-have guide for successful debate. New York: International Debate Education Association.Bottom of Form
Sturnquist, D. M. (2006). Mobile phones and driving. New York: Novinka Books.
