Should texting while driving be illegalized?

Mobile phones are ubiquitous technology with a fascinating history. There are now as many mobile phones in the world as there are people[1]. Modern cellphones are diminutive, light, compact and simple to use and have become an important part of life for a large number of people.

Mobile phones play an important role in bridging the gap between people through its general communication benefits globally and especially in the transport industry. Access to mobile phones provide safety benefits by allowing people to notify breakdown or emergency services when inevitable[2]. Mobile phones have revolutionized communication and access to various important services in the transport industry such as the recent launch of uber services. This has made it easier for travelers to access transport services simply by ordering for services via mobile phones.

Despite the general communication benefits of mobile phones, some driving habits such as texting while behind the wheel has become a disastrous behavior due to its physical and cognitive distraction. According to Carnegie Mellon, bad driving habits such as usage of cell phones minimizes the amount of brain activity when driving to 63 percent. Holding a mobile phone with one hand when texting and steering with the other hand leads to diversion of attention from the road and minimizes maneuverability exposing the driver and passengers to a possible threat of collision due to mental distraction.

Drivers who use mobile phones while behind the wheel are more likely to cause fatal accidents by roving out of their lane, more likely to hit a pedestrian and more likely to overturn their vehicle. This report also stated that using a cell phone while behind the wheel raises the chance of a fatal accident three times more than being drunk[3]. This is because when a driver is texting, he or she must allocate part of their attention to texting and maintaining the cell phone conversation and the other part to operating the vehicle and responding to constant changing road and traffic conditions. Therefore, the demand of cellphone texting must compete with the demands of driving safely.

In conclusion, due to the dangers accompanied by concurrent texting and driving, police should have sufficient power to deal with drivers using cell phones while driving by arresting and prosecuting them[4]. This will greatly reduce the number of deaths and injuries resulting from fatal accidents caused by physical and cognitive distractions of texting while driving.

Reference

1. Jon Agar. (Feb 7, 2013). Constant Touch, publisher: Icon books, USA.
2. David Jamieson MP, Minister for Road Safety. (9^th January 2001) Parliamentary answer, Hansard, 9^th January 2001, UK.
3. Cher et al. (31^st may 1999). Cellular Telephone use and fatal traffic collision: a commentary, accident analysis and prevention, UK.
4. Davis Jamieson MP, Minister for Road Safety. (23^rd October 2001) Parliamentary answer, Hansard, UK.

[1] Jon agar. (Feb 7, 2013) constant touch, publisher: icon books, 2013. Pg. 7

[2] Parliamentary Answer, David Jamieson MP, Minister for road safety, Hasard, 9 January 2001, UK.

[3] Cher et al. (31 may 1999) cellular telephone Use and fatal traffic collision: a commentary, Accident Analysis and Prevention, 1999. Pg.31

[4] D Jamieson MP, Minister for Road Safety, Parliamentary answer, Hansard, column 195W, 23^rd October 2001, UK.