Cell Phones and Driving - As Dangerous as Driving Drunk

The motoring public is continuing to drive their cars and trucks while being distracted by cell phones and other electronic devices.  While no state currently bans the use of cell phones while driving, it may be high time to examine the growing problem in greater detail.  New research has been made public which further confirms the dangers associated with distracted driving.  Clarence Ditlow, the director of the Center for Auto Safety, stated recently that "[w]e're looking at a problem that could be as bad as drunk driving and the government has covered it up".  It is estimated that cell phone use by drivers caused around 955 deaths and 240,000 accidents in 2002.  Hands-free headsets do not eliminate the serious accident risk.  Studies have shown that it is the cellphone conversation itself that distracts the drivers attention from the road, not just holding the phone.  Research also shows that motorists talking on the phone are four times as likely to crash as other dirvers, and are as likely to cause an accident as someone with a .08 blood alcohol content.  Text messaging is particularly troublesome because the driver actually has to take his or her attention from the road entirely.  Mixed together with young drivers, cell phone use and texting is a true recipe for disaster.