Study upon study has been done on the results of handheld cell phone usage while behind the wheel of a motorized vehicle. They have proven over and over again that doing so has negative effects on reaction time, attentiveness, and alertness. Using a cell phone has been deemed as hazardous as driving under the influence, or even more dangerous. Studies such as these have led to some states enforcing hands-free laws for using a cell phone while driving, thinking this to be a safer alternative to taking one hand off the wheel to use a handset. Was this alternative method of usage underestimated in its ability to distract a driver from their overall duty to remain safe behind the wheel?
As a truck driver myself, in California none-the-less, I can't even begin to count the number of drivers I see daily holding up a cell phone up to their ear. Another amazing fact is that it I see this not only in four-wheelers, but in some big trucks as well. It is amazing the lengths some will go to, slumping down in their seat or placing the phone between their cheek and shoulder. All of this is done in an effort to hide the fact that they are breaking the law. On top of this already dangerous method of usage behind the wheel, I see even more people sending text messages while driving as well! My favorite to watch is the two-handed method, where a knee is usually holding the steering wheel. If the call is that important and you don’t have a hands-free method of answering it, I’m sure they’ll leave a message you can check when you can safely stop. As for the texting, it is wrong on so many levels, I don’t quite know where to begin. Seriously? I have a hard enough time getting my thumbs to outsmart the auto-correct spelling function when I am not driving!
Even though a few states have enacted hands-free laws for cell phone usage, they may be forced to re-think their laws in this area entirely. Recent studies now show that hands-free drivers may be almost, or just as dangerous as a driver holding a phone while driving. Researchers at the University of Utah Center for the Prevention of Distracted Driving recently conducted a brainwave-measuring study on distracted driving. In this study they measured brainwave activity in different distracted driving conditions including hand-held cell usage, hands-free cell usage, listening to the radio, and talking to a passenger. Their findings drew a conclusion that drivers using a hands-free device or talking to a passenger were only slightly less cognitively distracted than a caller using a handheld device. In other words, drivers were almost just as distracted, regardless of complying with hands-free law or not!
With the NHTSA estimating that 25% of all crashes are contributed to in some way by inattentive drivers people really need to stop and ask themselves, “Is this call really that important?” or “Can this text wait another couple minutes?” Living in California, I am not oblivious to the stereotype that we seem like we are always in a hurry out here and that a certain level of rudeness in our driving habits comes with the territory. Another “epic fail” on the part of making cell phones safer to use in a vehicle are the text-to-speech or speech-to-text programs now offered as an alternative to texting. Some studies have gone as far as to say that people are more distracted by using these programs than talking with a handset up to their ear. I’m sure everyone has seen the commercials of someone’s loved one that has died as a result of texting where it shows that “all important” message they just had to read or send out just prior to impact. It usually reads something like “I’m on my wa…” or “Almost ther…”. Perhaps if more drivers stopped to think about the irreversible effects of distracted driving, safer roads could be had for us all.
Reasons like these are the reason I try not to talk at all when behind the wheel and operating my truck, if at all possible. My wife started to realize most times when she would call and I was driving, I would be short in my conversing with her. She would ask why I was short, as if I were upset with her or something. It was only after explaining to her and showing her statistics from studies like this that she realized why I was not talking for long periods of time. I explained to her that with such a large piece of machinery in my hands, it was not fair to jeopardize the safety of those around me just for the sake of conversation. Even though I have a Bluetooth headset, the motoring public around me demands nothing less than my undivided attention when operating my 80,000-pound behemoth. I understand that the nature of the trucking business warrants that we are available to certain people such as dispatchers, planners, shippers, receivers, brokers, and family at home. Just remember to take the time to decide if next call is absolutely necessary, or could it wait until the next time you safely are off the road. There is need to worry any of the important people that need to contact you, but also remember that there is no need to put other people in danger as a result of your inattentive driving!