Distraction from cell phone

The recent attention of die media to driver distraction - mostly from cell phones - and the dramatic accident stories related to cell phone use, are probably also responsible for findings such as that 31 percent of the drivers consider using the cell phone while driving as the most aggravating aspect of other drivers behavior (Mason-Dixon, 2005). 

Given the implication of driver inattention as a major human crash cause in clinical in-depth analyses, and the recent demonstration of the crash risk from cell-phone related inattention (see Chapter 13), an interesting challenge in the 100-car study was to extract information on the causal roles of inattention and distraction fi-om these data without resorting to the drivers ... 

Today, we have many distractions. We are constantly busy, from the time we wake up until we go to bed. The world is full of light and noise 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have television, the Internet, computer games, and cell phones to keep us busy, busy, busy. 

In the past decade, as the popularity of cellular phones has risen, so have the number of acci-dentscaused by people talking on their cell phones. Whether they were dialing a number, listening to a message, or simply in a heated conversation, they were momentarily distracted from the task of driving, and suddenly—crash Fortunately, many of these accidents have been minor fender-benders. 

You can also be distracted by the conversation you are having and lose focus from driving. This means that you may not be able to react quick enough to dangers on the road. Another problem is that with a cell phone, you don t have both hands on the wheel, and that s for the whole time you re talking. You can t make sharp turns and handle sudden curves with just one hand. 

The primary responsibility of the driver is to operate a motor vehicle safely. The task of driving requires full attention and focus. Cell phone use can distract drivers from this task, risking harm to themselves and others. Therefore, the safest com e of action is to refrain from using a cell phone while driving. ... 

McDonnel, B. (n.d.). McDonnell Keep Rest Stops Open. Press Release. Retrieved 6 January 2012 from the World Wide Web http //www.bobmcdonneU.com/index.php/ press releases/detaUs/mcdonnell keep rest stops open National Safety CouncU. 2010. Understanding the Distracted Brain Why Driving while Using Hands-Free Cell Phones Is Risky Behavior. Downloaded (3 May 2011) from http //www. 

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