Since the introduction of the mobile phone there has been an increase in traffic accidents. It seems mobile phones and road disasters go hand in hand. Since the introduction of the smart phone which enables users to access email and the internet while on the go, these figures have increased. It is believed that one in twenty car accidents are caused by people using their mobile phones while driving that equates to six thousand road deaths per year worldwide caused by drivers being too engrossed in talking, texting or surfing the net rather than concentrating on the road.
Thirty seven per cent of drivers confirmed that they send and receive text messages while driving of which fifty per cent of these are people aged between eighteen and twenty four. Thirteen per cent said that they surf the internet searching for a location while they are meant to be concentrating on the road.
Many people wonder why insurance is so expensive for any drivers under the age of twenty five, but a majority of road accidents in the UK are caused by younger drivers and with the statistics of how many use mobile phones while driving this is no surprise.
The Solution
Is there a solution? Manufacturers have come up with Bluetooth headsets and hands free kits to enable users to drive and talk at the same time, but studies have shown that this can actually be more dangerous than using the phone on its own.
The debate is due to the fact that many drivers will lean over to reach for their phone which is held in a doc in the center console and try and type in a number or a name on the internet, taking their eyes off the road and causing a severe damage. Many believe that there is an increased risk of an accident when using these devices.
Other studies have shown that drivers who talk using headsets or even hands free kits concentrate more on their conversations than the road. Talking while driving is a major distraction and when texting or talking while driving gives you the reflexes of a seventy year old that is scary statistics.
Mobile Phones and Road Disasters
The Outcome
We have to wonder what can be done about this. Our mobile phones are attached to our hips, they are devices that we have come to rely on and cannot leave home without. If the phone beeps for a message or rings while we are driving we cannot resist answering it or typing a quick message back.
In those few seconds it may take you to type that you are driving and will call soon, you could have caused an accident. As you are well aware an accident can happen in a heartbeat and while you may think you are the greatest driver in the world, you still do not have the concentration you need when driving if you are talking, texting or surfing the net.
You still see many good drivers pull over to the hard shoulder to answer their phones; while this is a safer option than driving it still has its disadvantages. All you need is a driver that isn’t as careful as you are that swerves into the shoulder taking you and your car out before you realize what has happened.
While this technology has improved in leaps and bounds and offered us the opportunity to be contactable at anytime and anywhere, it is still technology that should be ignored when driving. When you see some of the horrific accidents that do occur as a result of the driver using their phone, or worst dropping their phone and trying to retrieve it without seeing the car in front, you will never want to use your phone in the car again.
Author Bio
Eduardo P is from Portugal and works for Sixt.co.uk in the UK. Eduardo produced this article to spread awareness on traffic accidents; always be safe on the roads, think about the dangers and prevent disasters from happening!
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