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Never at a loss for words: More than 10 million drivers are talking on their cell phones in the U.S. (Photo by Scott Jacobs)
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Although they're extremely common, headsets like these (earbuds and earclips) often slip from the ear or have volume problems, causing distractions of their own. The headband-type that goes over the crown of your head has better staying power. (Photo courtesy of PhoneGEAR)
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You can mount your cell phone in your car with a kit, but new technologies provide more elegant solutions. (Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company)
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Bluetooth-equipped phones and cars work together to give you true voice-activated, hands-free, in-vehicle capability. Bluetooth is increasingly available in 2005 models. (Photo courtesy of Parrot Telecommunications)
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There's no conclusive proof that using a handheld phone is less safe than a hands-free phone, but an upcoming study from NHTSA should be more definitive. (Photo courtesy of iStockPhoto)
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Safety Tips
Driven to Distraction: Cell Phones in the Car
The Debate Over DWY (Driving While Yakking)
By Joanne Helperin
Email | Blog
Video highlights of this article
At any given moment, more than 10 million U.S. drivers are talking on handheld cell phones, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Why is this a problem? Cell phones (also called wireless phones) are a known distraction, and the NHTSA has determined that driver inattention is a primary or contributing factor in as many as 25 percent of all police-reported traffic accidents. This doesn't include the thousands of accidents that aren't reported to the authorities.
This has created an obvious concern about cell phone safety. Dozens of countries have banned the use of handheld phones while driving. In the U.S., California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Washington, D.C. and many municipalities have fully outlawed in-vehicle handheld phone use. Dozens of states have banned cell phone use by minors and bus drivers. Many other attempts at strong state legislation have failed or been tabled.
At the core of this flurry of legislative attempts is the debate over whether DWY — or "driving while yakking" — is truly dangerous. Wireless-phone proponents say that talking on a cell phone is the same as or less of a distraction than changing your radio station, trying to control your kids or eating — none of which is regulated of course. Since many states already have laws that ban distracted driving, they contend that outlawing handheld cell phones is penalizing the technology instead of the behavior.
There's a remarkable lack of hard data on the subject. If you troll the Internet, you can find studies all across the board regarding cell phone use and its alleged dangers. One study in Japan indicated that the majority of cell phone-related crashes were associated with dialing or answering, while data from the U.S. suggests that holding a conversation is to blame (NHTSA, 1997). Other studies say that the percentage of accidents and fatalities due to phone use is much smaller than believed.
Two studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reporting on the outcome of the bans on handheld cell phone use in New York and Washington, D.C. found that initial cooperation with the ban was high, reducing handheld phone use by as much as 2.5 percent. However, after a year, handheld cell phone use resumed, and in the case of New York, returned to practically the same level as before the ban.
Suffice it to say that the jury is still out.
Clearly, now that we have learned the benefits of cell phones, there's no going back. Instead of stewing in traffic, we can conduct business and stay in touch with family and friends. We can let people know when we're running late. If there's a problem on the road, cell phones allow us to call for roadside assistance or medical help. We can report problems: a drunk driver, a stranded motorist, an obstacle in the road. Drivers even call in traffic reports to radio stations, allowing the rest of the community to benefit from their knowledge.
But let's face it. In spite of these benefits, cell phones do pose a serious risk because they distract from driving. With that in mind, here are our suggestions for using a cell phone safely in your car.
- Get to know your phone and its features — if you can dial a number with one key instead of seven or 10, you're better off.
- Position your phone within easy reach — bending over to reach for it takes your eyes of the road and can cause you to swerve.
- Suspend calls in heavy traffic or in bad weather — you need to focus even more under hazardous conditions.
- Do not take notes or look up phone numbers while driving — enough said.
- Keep conversations short. Inform the person you're calling that you are in a car, and hang up as soon as possible.
- If possible, place calls when you are not moving. Pull over where possible.
- Ask a passenger to help. Have someone else make or take the call.
- Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations — leave the child support conversations for the home phone.
What About Hands-Free Phones?
One would think that using a hands-free phone would solve the problem. It leaves you with two hands on the wheel, right? Not necessarily. Most hands-free users are using some form of headphone or earphone. These often ill-fitting devices have frequent volume problems and can themselves be a source of distraction. The IIHS reported that a driver's likelihood of getting in an accident increases fourfold when talking on a wireless phone, whether handheld or hands-free. The NHTSA researched whether using phones hands-free makes a difference; it actually had to change its "test headphone" from an earclip design to a headband-style design (which runs over the crown of the head) to assure that test-drivers wouldn't have to use their hands to repeatedly adjust the earclips. The study found that drivers typically favored hands-free and voice-dialing options over holding the phone, and typically found these setups easier to use.
There are several hands-free options that make more sense, eliminating the need for a headphone by running voice calls through your car's speakers.
Additionally, an increasing number of cell phones and vehicles are equipped with Bluetooth technology. This allows you to have your phone anywhere in your car (even the trunk!) and still make and receive calls. You'll hear the calls through the speakers, and your voice will be transmitted through the car's built-in microphone. Bluetooth-enabled cars are equipped with voice recognition technology, such that you can make and receive phone calls without having to touch any buttons on the phone. Imagine instructing your car to "phone home," then having a conversation with your loved one while still keeping two hands on the wheel. (See our story on Bluetooth and cars that have it.)
If Bluetooth is not an option, you can get similar functionality through Verizon Wireless and the OnStar in-car communications system. A subscriber to the America's Choice with OnStar plan can transfer incoming calls that would normally ring on the handset to the vehicle, allowing for hands-free, voice-activated dialing. See the Verizon Wireless site for a list of vehicles and requirements.
What may come as an interesting surprise is that, even if a cell phone is being used completely hands-free, the risk of having an accident doesn't seem to be reduced. Apparently, the act of conversing on the phone — not holding the phone to your ear — is the more dangerous distraction. Emotional conversations in particular seem to elevate risk. So hands-free or not, there's an increased risk to DWY.
NHTSA's upcoming study on wireless phone interfaces should shed new light on whether hands-free driving is safer or not. In the meantime, the agency feels that banning hand-held cell phones is a bad idea. And even in states or localities where cell phones are banned, there is a serious problem with compliance.
We agree that wireless technology is terrific, but just because it seems to be everywhere doesn't mean you have to use it everywhere. You never know: The most important call of your life could be the one you never make.
Related Articles:
Cell Phone Laws by City and State
Look Officer, No Hands
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