This may sound familiar to some; a driver is at a light that just turned red, plenty of time to send a quick text. The driver grabs their cell phone and types in a few words, five minutes away, see you soon, or maybe I love you. Message sent, the driver puts the phone down, they look around as if to examine the intersection and cars around them. The light turns green and the driver proceeds, no harm, no foul. Some of drivers may even send a text while cruising a 55+ miles per hour. Cell phone use and driving is a major problem in the United States. Even with laws prohibiting the act of cell phone use and driving, people continue to do so. State and local law enforcement nationwide continue to try and figure out ways to discourage people from using their phones while driving. Unless a different approach is implemented, and laws become clear, concise, and consistent, drivers will continue to put other people's lives at risk when they use their phones and drive.
Driving and cell phone use has been compared to being drunk behind the wheel. The research focused on a dual-task activity that is
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Some states allow drivers to talk on cell phones but texting is illegal. Some states require drivers to use a hands free device. These devices can be placed in or on the driver’s ear. When a phone call is received the driver simply presses a button on the device and engages in the conversation. If the cell phone is in a drivers hand they will have to manipulate the phone in order to use it. The driver will have to take their eyes off the road at some point in order to access a certain phone number or to engage a certain feature on the phone. A police officer who executes a traffic stop for what he perceives as a cell phone use while driving violation can be told by the driver that they were dialing a number, not texting. This makes the police officer question whether or not a citation should be given to the