There has been much debate about distraction and the different levels of distraction while driving a car. These range from listening to radios, having arguments with children, to having no awareness of what is happening around you.
This debate has been elevated to a new level with the advent of cell phones and driving while using them. This is no longer an academic issue. Cellphones are now widely used in many countries around the globe to make and receive calls, send and receive text messages and SMS messages.
Since the original James Bond film, Russia with Love, the cell phone has evolved a lot and is now a common part of the driver’s experience. Manufacturers are increasingly integrating cell phones into their vehicles, using Bluetooth technology or other technological adaptations.
They were first known as car phones when they became popular. This was because they were most commonly used there. Due to the small size of the carphone, most people wouldn’t use them unless the car was moving. They would make every effort to pull over or stop at a safe location before answering any calls. As cellphones became larger and more capable of reversing, so has their size. People found it easier and more often necessary to make and receive calls on the road. They no longer consider it distracting or risky.
After some time, governments realized the dangers and risks of using a cellphone while driving and began to normalize it. Numerous states and governments have passed laws making it a crime to use a cellphone while you make or receive calls. Bluetooth technology, along with other technology, allowed drivers to make and take calls hands-free. This was deemed safer and less distracting than holding a phone in one’s hand while driving.
It is possible that the belief that hands-free driving makes it safer might not be true. Although it is legal in most areas, the problem of text messaging or SMS messages has nearly overtaken it. This dangerous and widespread practice is extremely common. It involves using one or both of your hands while driving. However, the driver must also look at their cellphone screen to send or receive text messages.
Research by the United States government shows that driving while using a cellphone can be distracting. This is a serious problem that few legislators seem to have addressed. It is a huge issue in terms of the potential for fatalities and accidents. Safety-wise, a car that is not moving is considered safe. This is so the driver can focus on the road and not on the people around them. There are many scenarios in which car insurance could be compromised if the driver is involved in an accident or fatality that was caused by improper use of a cellphone.
