Why You Should Definitely Not Use Your Phone While Driving

January 26th, 2015 by Eli P

We’re all aware that texting while driving is illegal and increases the risk of an accident, but few phone calls can be equally dangerous. Thousands of accidents and deaths occur each year as a result of cell phone use while driving. It’s tough for our brain to manage multiple tasks that demand our attention; responding to distractions, such as that ‘important’ phone conversation, or that ‘hilarious’ gif your friend just tweeted, can increase a driver’s risk of having a crash by as much as four times. Four times!! Yikes!

The distraction from using a cell phone while driving can, and most likely will, result in impairments, such as:

Limited View of Surroundings

Distracted drivers aren’t able to process everything they see out their windshield and can’t effectively monitor their surroundings. This affects a driver’s ability to seek and identify potential hazards, and respond to unexpected changes in their driving environment. In other words, it’s harder to see that sports car moving into your path as you change lanes if your eyes are on tonight’s dinner menu instead of checking your mirrors. Drivers using cell phones may fail to see up to half of the objects in their driving environment.

Delayed Response Times

Plenty of studies show that response and reaction times are significantly delayed when drivers are using cell phones while driving. For a driver speeding down the freeway, a fraction of a second can be the difference between avoiding a crash, a road hazard, and possibly the life of others.

Swerving

Drivers listening on or interacting with cell phones have more problems staying in their lane, and can often drift, unknowingly, into another lane. Using a cell phone while driving at high speeds greatly reduces the driver’s margin of error and available response time for the moments leading up to a potential crash.

Public opinion surveys show most drivers believe using a cell phone while driving is dangerous; however, many of those surveyed still admit taking and making regular cell phone calls while driving.

Make the road safer by knowing the dangers of cell phone use while driving and keep your eyes on the road! The call can wait. It’s important to realize that your actions can have life changing consequences for not only your friends and family, but also the loved ones of anyone you might come in contact with while driving. The next time you’re tempted to reply to a text or answer a call—ask yourself if it’s worth the risk!