Article
Teenage Drivers and Hand-free Cellular Phones: An Equation for Tragedy
The Chronicle
(2007)
Abstract
Fatalities from motor vehicle accidents continue to impact the lives of all Americans. Many distractions can intrude on a driver's perception and ensuing performance, but use of cellular telephones poses serious risk for driver error. Cellular phone use has been found to cause an increased variation in accelerator pedal position and cause drivers to drive more slowly with more variations in speed (Rakauska et al., 2004). Drivers using the phone while operating a vehicle fail to notice more road signs than when under the influence of alcohol (Redelmeier and Tibshirani, (2001). Teenagers operating vehicles represent a category of drivers of particular concern. Young drivers have elevated crash rates while they are learning the new skill of how to drive. While driver education classes have emphasized the deadly effects of driving under the influence of alcohol and other addictive substances, and with recent research suggesting the use of cellular telephones while driving is as devastating as driving under the influence of alcohol, driver education classes must assess and address the problems associated with the new technology. This article discusses this issue and stresses that because developed habits during formative driving experiences for adolescent vehicle operators can be difficult to alter later in life, the early establishment of dangerous or high-risk driving behaviors is a detriment to the teen driver, their parents, and the broader society at large.
Disciplines
Publication Date
January 1, 2007
Citation Information
Shari L. Willis, Dawn Tarabochia and Michele DiCorcia. "Teenage Drivers and Hand-free Cellular Phones: An Equation for Tragedy" The Chronicle Vol. 55 Iss. 2 (2007) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/shari-willis/1/