It is obviously difficult to keep your mind on your driving while talking on the phone. According to Sandy Berger, a new English study, Direct Line, shows that using a mobile phone impairs driving behavior more than being drunk. The Direct Line study, carried out over three months, involved testing the reaction times and driving performance of a panel of volunteers using a sophisticated driving simulator. Researchers tested how driving was impaired by talking on a hand-held mobile phone, a hands-free phone, and when drivers had consumed enough alcohol to be above the legal drink-drive limit. (par. 1).

The results demonstrate that drivers' reaction times were, on average, 30% slower when talking on a hand-held mobile phone compared to being drunk and nearly 50% slower than normal driving conditions. A

ccording to the tests, drivers talking on a hand-held were less able to maintain a constant speed and found it more difficult to keep a safe distance from the car in front. (Berger, par. 3).

“Tuesday, November 2, 1999 – my second full day at home with Morgan Lee. I remember it like it was yesterday. We had nothing in particular to do that day, so we decided to go visit my sister Jeannette and her son Christian. After a few hours of play, it was time to go home for Morgan’s nap. So I got in the car and headed for home. I came to a stop sign. I could have made a left or a right to go home, and I usually make a left, but on this day I decided to turn right. A few minutes later, I felt a crash and our car flew across the road into an embankment. I quickly turned around to check on Morgan and I could not believe my eyes. Morgan Lee in her favorite hat. There was glass and blood everywhere and Morgan was not breathing. I jumped out of the car and just started screaming. Morgan only lived a few more hours. Our car was broadsided by a driver who failed to stop for a stop sign while using his cellular phone.”

On average, it took hand-held mobile phone users half a second longer to react than normal and a third of a second longer to react compared to when they were drunk. Do not become part of the rising statistics of cell phone abuse. If you MUST use your cell phone while in your vehicle, pull of to the side of the road and make your call.

I want to leave you with this story about a mother who has lost her daughter who died in a car crash, which was caused by a person not paying attention to their driving because they were talking on the phone.

Talking on a cell phone needs to be limited or completely cut out while dr

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