User:Group6

Team Information
Members: Evan Scobbie Laura Hadley Kimberly Mak

Introduction
Cell phones play an essential role in our society. However, it is not just convenience that they offer. There are a lot of hazards that unknowingly come along with it. In 2003, inattentive driving accounted for 6.4 percent of crash fatalities. In this study, we will talk about the usage of cell phones and other wireless or electronic devices that causes these distractions.

Who has been involved?
There are already laws enforced to at least 40 countries that restrict or prohibit the use of cell phones while driving. People who support this restriction rule says that the use of cell phones is a far greater distraction than any other distraction out there, such as drinking and eating, putting on makeup or attending to children. Driving and having a conversation on a cell phone demand greater continuous concentration, which diverts the driver’s eyes from the road and his mind from driving.

Legal Issues


Although only a few high-profile cases have gone to court, there are still situations of people being sued by talking on the cell phone and driving. Employers are worried that they might be legally responsible for accidents caused by their employees while driving and conducting work-related conversation on cell phones. Under the principle of explicit responsibility, employers may be held legally accountable for the negligent acts of employees committed in the course of employment. Employees may also be found negligent if they fail to put in place a policy for the safe use of cell phones. Therefore, a lot of companies established cell phone usage policies. There are some that allow employees to conduct business over the phone as long as they pull over to the side or park into a parking lot. However, there are others that completely restricted the use of wireless devices.

The North Dakota Law Review published an article on June 2003 by attorney Jordan Michael. It proposed a theory of cell phone manufacturer’s legal responsibility for auto accidents if they do not warn users of the dangers of driving and talking on the phone at the same time. The theory says that making this a liability would be similar to the liability of employers who encourage or demand cell phone use on the road. Holding manufacturers liable would cover the people who drive and use cell phones for personal calls. Currently there are already some car rental agencies who have already placed warnings on embedded cell phones in their cars.

Evolution of the cell phone
Many years ago the cell phone was viewed as somewhat of an oddity, but today it has grown into a indispensable asset in which millions of people rely on. The first actual cell phone was made in 1973 using the mobile car phone, and police radios as inspiration. Martin Cooper assisted by other inventors was the man who invented this cell phone, he is also the first person to make a call using a cellphone. Cell phones became available to the public in 1984, but were relatively huge and heavy compared to anything we find today, and cost nearly $4000 dollars US.



Number of cells
In 2005 there was an estimated total of 2.5 billion cell phones in use. Numbers range from country to country, but the trend shows that most 1st world countries have a large number of cell phone users.For example, in the United Kingdom there is more cell phones than there are people living there.

Cost
Year ago when the cellphone was new, like any other technology the prices for a unit were tremendous, nearing $4000 for a cellphone when the first became available. Modern cell phones cost anywhere between $0 (on a contract) to upwards of a thousand dollars, averaging around 100-300 dollars for a phone with numerous features. Plans can also range greatly, anywhere from as low as $10 to $200+ dollars a month depending on the services provided such as internet access and bandwidth limits. The relatively low cost and accessibility of cell phones plays a lare part in their popularity. Landlines are estimated to be obsolete by 2010.

Injuries and Deaths
With millions using cell phones every day, and many of them talking or texting in the car, the distraction is bound to cause accidents. In the United States alone, cell phone usage while driving causes 2,600 deaths a year, and upwards of 330,000 injuries a year.

Comparison with with driving impaired


According to studies, driving while impaired and driving while talking on a cell phone are actually similar in the danger they pose. Impaired drivers tend to be more aggressive and apply the brakes with more force, where as drivers using cell phones have a greater following distance and sluggish reflexes. How they preform is different but they pose just as much danger. Driving while talking on a cell phone is said to be as dangerous as driving with a BAC of 0.08.

Causes of Using a Cell Phone
Our society has encouraged the notion that we all must multi-task to keep up with everything that is going on in our lives. In other words, people tend to use their time in the car as extra time to get ready. For example, women find it normal to apply make-up on the way to work. Individuals neglect the importance and dangers of driving due to a false sense of security and experience. Unfortunately, 90 percent of fatal collisions are caused by driver error and distractions. A large portion of those distractions are caused by talking or texting on a cell or other mobile device.

Misconceptions with Using a Cell Phone
Our society continuously trys to ban cell phone usage however does not include 'hands free' models as it is thought that they are much safer in the vehicle. Most of the danger associated with cell phone usage is due to the distraction from the conversation rather than the use of one hand to hold the phone. Hands Free has one advantage in that it lets the driver respond to emergency situations with two hands. In the end the difference is negligible, and is being reviewed by many countries.

Conclusion
No one will ever give up using cell phones, they have become such a integral part of our every day lives, not to mention the business applications they fulfill. Prohibiting use while driving an automobile, talking and texting included is a minor inconvenience yes but for safeties sake the sacrifice is worth it. The danger they pose is the fact that they are very demanding on the brain and it takes a great deal of concentration to have a conversation. Therefore buying a hands free model is really of little help, not to mention you still need to answer the phone and put on the headset. In the future, more and more states and provinces in the US and Canada will begin prohibiting the use of cells while driving. Many already have and the rest are most likely going to follow suit. The cellphone has become a invaluable tool for facilitating communication in our modern society, but the safety of other and ourselves should never be overlooked.