Every day in the Atlanta area from Lawrenceville to Roswell to Marietta to Stone Mountain, you and I pass drivers who are engaged in their cell phone - not in driving. The New York Times recently reported in an article on cellphones and car accidents that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) never made public the research from a 2003 study related to the risks of cell phone use while driving. In this blog just a few days ago, a 2005 study was cited by the NHTSA that showed driver distraction caused by cell phone usage contributes to car accidents regardless of whether it is a handheld or hands free device. Try out the game at the end of this post to guage your own distraction level.
The newly disclosed research indicated that in 2002, twenty five percent of motor vehicle accidents were related to driver distraction. Driver distraction includes animals, eating/drinking, reading, rubber-necking, passengers, radio, smoking, children and cell 
phones. The National Safety Council issued a Cell Phone Use While Driving Fact Sheet that states drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in a car crash. Approximately 6% of car accidents are attributed to cell phone use.
The reason behind the failure of the NHTSA to release the research is being used by consumer groups to bring the issue of prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving into public focus. Whether you believe the use of cell phones while driving should be illegal or not, common sense tells us that drivers already know (and have known for years) that cell phone use is a distraction along with texting and emailing. None of these activities should be done while driving and it is up to us, as responsible drivers to put the temptation aside and the cell phone down while driving. Avoid DUC (driving under the influence of cells) and not only will you be a safer driver, you won't run the risk of being sued for gross negligence when you are in a car accident, because you won't be on your phone!
Gauge your own distraction level with this cool interactive game on the dangers of driving and texting. I tried it and it was eye-opening!
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