Barnes offers another example of citing the study by Redelmeier and Tibshirani, and using this to substantiate the rumor that car phones are a dangerous distraction. Further the author quotes a victim of an accident involving cell phone use; interestingly the same person states that he now is "very conscious" while continuing with cell phone use (1-2).Canadian Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA). "Some Facts On Cell Phones and Driving." Canada: CWTA, 1998). Retrieved July 29, 1999 from World Wide Web: http://www.drivers.com/driving/articles/cellphonefacts.html One of the problems with existing research is the lack of sufficient data regarding affects of cell phone use while driving, on traffic accidents. Most states do not monitor the situation and other surveys offer limited information. Redelmeir and Tibshirani conducted a study and reported the risk for accident to increase four-fold (453). This study is quoted frequently in the literature, resulting in an inaccurate impression. The NHTSA provides a more accurate representation of the issue, presenting, for example, police crash reports and their limitations (4). Positive effects of cell phone use, such as increased public safety, are also reported (Wheeler 1-2). The CWTA points out that overall numbers of traffic accidents have not increased, with the increased use of cell phones, and numbers related to accidents prevented by cell phone use are not available (1-2). The NHTSA reports that manufacturing goals need to include the making of cellular telephones "as compatible with safe driving as the state-of-the-art allows" to include human factors, engineering, and driver education (14). Educational materials regarding the hazards of driving during cell phone use, must be developed and given to the driving public. Driver etiquette might be taught to help the driver become aware of and abruptly halt conversations that might become particularly hazardous (14-15). Cellular |
