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CELL PHONES.
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Reasons to ban usage by automobile drivers.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Reasons to ban usage by automobile drivers. Discusses dangers of cell phone use while driving to the driver, other drivers and pedestrians. High accident risk. Handheld versus hands-free phones. Contends drives using cell phones are distracted and cause accidents. Cell phones as mainly a convenience, not a necessity. Cell phone causing health hazards (cancer).
Paper Introduction:
CELL PHONES ON THE ROAD
Three main reasons to ban the use of cell phones while driving are: (1) drivers are distracted and thus cause accidents; (2) For the most part, cell phones are a convenience and not a necessity; and (3) cell phone use may cause cancer.
There is a lively discussion among safety experts, public officials and the general public about cell phones in use while driving. There is no doubt that there are statistics which prove that these phones, while in use, are a danger to the driver, to other drivers, as well as for pedestrians. Just how dangerous can the use of cell phones while driving be? “A 1997 study in the New England journal of Medicine found that talking on a phone while driving quadrupled the risk of an accident and was almost as dangerous as being drunk behind the wheel” (USA Today 1). The problem is th
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"Since1995, legislation has been proposed in 22 states. I just think this is just kind of punitive" (No auth. lags behind other nations. . Nevertheless, grass-roots efforts toban the use of cell phones continue. However, the second argument is a validone: for the most part, cell phones are a convenience, and not reallynecessary, even as some people argue the point. Petersburg TIMES, "The stateof new York...just became the first state to ban drivers from talking onhandheld phones. 1). Verizon,which has some 28 million cell phone users, is determined that its $14.95headset would circumvent any bans. The problem isthat many people - especially cell phone users, are not convinced they aredoing anything dangerous, and resent the government's interference in theiractivities with phone usage. How much of this anti-cell phone use is wishful thinking ofunsubstantiated scare tactics? It would seem, unless there is a real, valid emergency, handheld cellphones could remain in the pocket until a safe destination is arrived at.Even if not all facts and figures are in, it is obvious that accidents doand continue to occur. "Sincethe law was enacted in September 1999, police have issued 459 tickets. Countriesthat impose a fine for distracted drivers using handheld phones includeFrance, the Netherlands, and the UK. One reason that statistics about accidents, even fatalities, occurringwhen some drivers were talking on the phone, are unreliable is that manywon't admit they were on the phone. Furthermore, a "study carried out by theEuropean Research institute for Electronic Components....suggests that low-level radiation from mobiles can cause red blood cells to leak hemoglobin,the protein which carries oxygen to the body. There is a necessity for some professionals- doctors and governmentofficials, to need and use cell phones. CELL PHONES ON THE ROAD Three main reasons to ban the use of cell phones while driving are:(1) drivers are distracted and thus cause accidents; (2) For the most part,cell phones are a convenience and not a necessity; and (3) cell phone usemay cause cancer. The fact remains that more than any other single issue, "The NationalConference of State Legislatures has received 1,6 requests forinformation on driver cell phone use over the past two years" (Kelsey 1).Because many drivers are ignoring safety warnings, many cities and statesare seeking to find a way to fine drivers using cell phones. .No state has bannedtheir use in a vehicle because of the safety benefits" (Kinsman E1). In other words, their calls could wait untilthey were either safely parked on the side of the road, or out of theircars. to ban cell phones was Brooklyn, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. In fact, "a town ordinance banning motoristsfrom using handheld cell phones has been overturned by a judge who said itbucked state traffic laws...I am very concerned about safety (the judgesaid). But, they haveseldom been successful. Moms often use them to keep trackof their children, especially if there is an emergency. And, itseems, no American legislator is committed to standing up on the floor ofone of the houses of Congress, to propose a ban, at least on hand-held cellphones. WORKS CITED Beardsley, Tim: "Say That Again?" Scientific American, Dec, 1997 Brassfield, Mike: "Two hands on the Wheel, Eyes on (Ring Ring)" St.Petersburg, FL: St. There are those who argue that perhaps handheld cell phone usageshould be restricted, but that hands-free sets ought to be permitted.Nevertheless, it is not merely the holding of a phone that takes at leastone hand off the steering wheel, but the overall distraction of talk andlistening to someone on the phone. Actually, the first community in theU.S. The world-wide industries are concerned about the effect oflegislation and the potential cancer threat on their bottom lines. The initial banning of cellular phone use has successfullyconcentrated on handheld sets, because reliable statistics are available.One of the proponents of handheld set bans claimed that "a University ofRhode Island study showing that drivers have a reduced field of view -'tunnel vision' - when conducting cognitive tasks, including talking on acell phone" (Kelsey 2). .hasdrafted, with final approval expected this fall, a nationwide law requiringhands-free devices for motorists who use telephones while driving" (Komarow1). What the pro's and con's really add up to is that a potential dangerexists, but many state legislatures seem cowed by the effective lobbying ofcell phone manufacturers and the industry that controls their communicationhook-ups. While there are some who claim thisdistraction is no worse than listening to a car radio, the safety recordsprove otherwise. There are few countries, and no American states, that have seen fit topass laws banning cell phones. Just don't hold your breath waiting for Florida to do thesame" (Brassfield 18). Germany, "theland of lifetime driver's licenses and the light-speed Autobahn. As reported in the St. . And, we have allread news reports of passengers and drivers in cars that skidded off theroad, using their cell phones to call 9-1-1 and therefore, were able tosurvive. and Bormann, Dawn: "Busy Behind the Wheel: SomeAre Freed By Cell Phones; Some Are Driven To Distraction" Kansas City MO:Kansas City STAR, March 15, 1999 Kelsey, Dick: "Pressure for Cell-Phone Limits Increase" United PressInternational, July 25, 2 2 Komarow, Steven: Germany Targets Dialing and Driving" USA TODAY,Gannett News Service, Sept. As often happens, the U.S. "A 1997 study in the New England journal of Medicine found that talkingon a phone while driving quadrupled the risk of an accident and was almostas dangerous as being drunk behind the wheel" (USA Today 1). A build up ofhemoglobin...can bring on heart disorder and kidney stones" (Beardsley 2). The third point - a cancer scare - may or may not be valid, eventhough there are some statistics that alert people to potential dangers."In 1994, Henry Lai of the University of Washington, showed that microwaveradiation seems to slow down learning in rats" (Cheng 2). As for the concern that the use of mobile cell phones could causecancer or other diseases, including brain tumors, this is far from areliable fact-finding. Obviously, when fines are set so lowthey may not discourage anyone from the use of cell phones, but a ticket isa ticket, and it does go on the drivers' records. Other nations who now ban handheld phones include Greece, Hungary,Italy, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey. Just how dangerous can the use of cell phones while drivingbe? Cell phones workon small amounts of microwaves. "The jury is still out on the possible hazards ofcell phones" (Beardsley 3). 12, 2 Kinsman, Susan E.: "Do Driving, Phoning Mix?" Hartford CT: HartfordCourant May 26,2 Scherer, Ron: "Cell Hang-Up: A Revolt Against Dialing While Driving"Boston MA: The Christian Science Monitor April 18, 2 1 No author listed:: "Cell phone ban overturned: Tech Reviews USA TODAY,July 12, 2 There is a lively discussion among safety experts, public officialsand the general public about cell phones in use while driving. Statistics show that "61percent of all subscribers use their phones purely for personal reasons"(Cronkleton and Bormann A-1). And,the cancer scare is also not yet full fact. Naturally, the lobbyists for the cellular communications industry isfighting at every legislative level to eliminate or void any bans. Thefirst offense is a $3 fine, the second requires a court appearance with afine as high as $1 " (Scherer 1). There is nodoubt that there are statistics which prove that these phones, while inuse, are a danger to the driver, to other drivers, as well as forpedestrians. Petersburg Times, July 1, 2 1 Cheng, Maria: "Controversy in the Air" Asiaweek Asiaweek LimitedCorp, June 9, 2 Cronkleton, Robert A. Accident statistics are unreliable.Legislative banning has been, in some cases, overturned or not passed.
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