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Prohibiting Use of Cell Phones While Driving

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Prohibiting the Use of a Cell Phone While Operating a Motor Vehicle
Gerald J. Calca Jr.
Post University

Prohibiting the Use of a Cell Phone While Operating a Motor Vehicle
Statistics show that from 2003 to 2008 the number of accidents that were caused by drivers using a cell phone increased from 636,000 to an astounding 1.6 million. (CBSNews, 2010). This a growing trend that shows the use of cells phones while driving is an extremely dangerous activity which has had severe consequences for many individuals, and therefore should be prohibited to help ensure the safety on our roads. There are too many things that can go wrong when driving a car without any distractions. Taking your attention away from the road for any reason is not only a detriment to yourself but to others as well. While most people realize that driving a vehicle is a privilege and responsibility that should be taken very seriously, there are some people that believe that the convenience factor outweighs the risks.
According to K. Lissy, J. Cohen, M. Park, and J. Graham in their report Cellular Phone Use While Driving: Risks and Benefits (2000), some of the benefits that people find in using cell phones when driving are both personal and communal. Being able to use a cell phone while driving helps people reduce unnecessary trips, shorten the duration of their trips, and overall minimizes the amount of time spent on the road (Lissy, Cohen, Park, & Graham, Jul 2000, p. 41). An example of this would be a woman who needs to go to the grocery store after work. If her husband calls her while she is on her way to the store and tells her he has already picked up what they needed, then this would reduce her overall time on the road. This in turn would lower the chance to be involved in traffic accidents which cause injuries, and fatalities. A few of the benefits to the community cited in

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