All states make reckless or careless driving illegal. Few states, however, specifically regulate cell phone use in automobiles. California, Florida and Massachusetts impose minor restrictions on cell phones in automobiles. In California, rental cars with cellular telephone equipment must include written operating instructions for safe use. In Florida, cellular phone use is permitted in an automobile as long as it provides sound through one ear and allows surrounding sound to be heard with the other ear. In Massachusetts, car phones are permitted as long as they do not interfere with vehicle operation, and drivers keep one hand on the steering wheel at all times (Sundeen). The use of cell phones while a vehicle is in motion has already been banned in Australia, Spain, Israel, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Chile, Switzerland, Great Britain, Singapore, Taiwan, Sweden, Japan, and Austria (Cell phone safety advocates). Driving with a cell phone was also banned in Japan after a study found the number of traffic accidents related to the phones increased by 11 percent from 1997 to 1998. In the month after the law went into effect in Japan, the number of accidents caused by drivers using cell phones fell by about 75 percent (Nation Conference of State Legislators). The United States needs to take higher action to help reduce the number of accidents due to people using their cell phones while driving because if they do not, the situation will never get better but only get worse. Based on these statistics, why would the United States not want to take action based on the improvement shown in other countries?

At a research laboratory in Salt Lake City, professor David Strayer asked volunteers to take a ride in a driving simulator. After the volunteers strap on the seat belt and adjusted the mirrors, they started the car. Then the cell phone rings and the research begins. It's a replica of a similar study conducted in England, and the results are, so far, the same. Most drivers with cell phones, either the hand-held or hands-free models cannot cruise and chat at the same time. The drivers miss traffic lights and ignore changes in traffic - the latter possibly leading to more rear-end collisions, the University of Utah professor said. "We've found that talking on cell phones causes 'inattention blindness' for some people," he said. "Even though they're looking right at something, they don't see it because their mind is elsewhere. The cell phone is pulling them into a virtual reality" (Scripps Howard News Service).

Some topics in this essay:
Motors Ford-, Medicine NHTSA, Safety Administration, Today’s American, Department Transportation, Britain Japan, Legislators United, North Carolina, Florida Massachusetts, David Strayer, cell phone, cell phones, using cell, using cell phone, phone driving, cell phone driving, cell phones driving, phones driving, cell phone safety, phone safety, driving using, using cell phones, cellular telephone, drivers cell, phone dangerous,