Shut Up and Drive!

There is a funny bumper sticker that seems to be showing up on more and more cars recently. It reads, "Shut Up and Drive." The funniest part about seeing this bumper sticker is that the drivers of the cars to which they are stuck are often seen talking on their cell phones while they're driving! Driving and talking on the phone is something that many people do not seem to be able to quit doing. However, if the cell phone talkers really knew how dangerous their habit is, it's possible that they would make some sort of effort to stop.

Research Studies

There have been many research studies completed that have tried to prove that talking on a cell phone while driving increases the chances that a car accident will happen… and almost every single one of those studies has proven this to be true. One study, which recently appeared in the British Medical Journal, used a combination of cell phone records and car accident records to determine if the car accidents occurred at the same moment that a cell phone was in use. The researchers were able to determine that in a large percentage of the cases studied, the drivers were either in the process of dialing a cell phone or engaged in a cell phone conversation when the car accident happened . There have been other studies conducted that look at the danger difference between hand-held cell phones and cell phones that are hands-free. The evidence gathered during many of the studies has reveled that there is no difference between hand-held and hands-free cell phone usage in terms of accidents - - they're both bad. The act of talking on the phone while driving is what causes drivers to become distracted, not whether or not they are holding a phone to their ear or conducing a conversation with another type of cell phone device.

What to Do?

If it is absolutely necessary to make a phone call while driving, the only smart and safe way to do so is to pull the car off the road and park in a designated parking space. Once the car is in "park," dial the cell phone and engage in the conversation. Once the conversation has ended, hang up and resume driving. If the cell phone rings while driving, the driver should never take their eyes of the road to look at the Caller ID on the phone. The only safe thing to do is let the caller leave a message on the cell phone's voice mail system. When the car can be pulled over to a safe spot, or when the driver's destination is reached, the voice mail can be checked and the driver can make a return phone call.

Is it Worth the Risk?

Before answering a ringing cell phone while driving 55 miles per hour on the highway during a snow or rain storm, think about how dangerous it could be to remove one hand from the steering wheel and glancing at the phone to figure out which button should be pressed. Driving, especially at fast speeds and in bad weather, takes complete concentration, and answering a phone during the middle of it can help cause an accident.