Phyllis can you help with my homwork?

Generating a Policy Proposal

Lorraine Dupleasis

Argosy University-Inland Empire

Professor Jordan

June 9, 2015:

Introduction

The use of hand held phones has been quite a concern in the transport industry. It has been attributed to heightened risks of fatalities, injuries, traffic collision and damage to property. Many states and cities in effect have enacted laws that restrict texting and using hand held phones while driving to minimize accidents. Despite the attempt, a significant percentage of accidents about 28 percent occur yearly due to the use of hand held phones when driving (National Safety council, 2009). This is due to the absence of laws that ban the use of hand held phones.

This proposal seeks to find out the extent to which the current research has made in a bid to regulate the use of hand held phones. And also to utilize different research that has been put in place to propose a way forward to solve the prevailing stalemate with the use of cellular phones.

Summary

According to several research conducted, the effects of accidents due to collision of vehicles are common. It often results to the loss of lives, fatal and minor injuries to the motorists. Vehicles are damaged which may be costly to repair. It results in other extra expenses such as medication costs, litigation expenses, working time lost, insurance administration and other extensive impact of the collision. In addition, it causes traffic build up, sudden grief to the families affected and an immediate mobilization of an emergency response. The increased frequency of motor collision is associated with the use of cellular cell phones while driving.

Drivers using hand held cellular phones is exclusively currently a common practice. A number of studies that have been done reveal that about 80- 90 percent of drivers use their cell phones while driving (NHTSA, 1997a; PCIA, 1999; Cain & Burris, 1999). The frequency with which it is used when driving varies significantly among the drivers. Another study done discovered that about 15 percent of drivers use their hand held cellular phones for one hour or more monthly, 15 percent use them for about half an hour, 20 percent use them for about 10-20 minutes and about 39 percent use them for a minimum of 10 minutes monthly (PCIA, 1999).

The most in-depth analysis of the detrimental effects of cell phone use while driving is the research of NHTSA (1997a), several other researches have borrowed heavily from this review; these are the authors who have developed their reviews (Hahn & Tetlock, 1999; Cain and & Burris, 1999). These works have a common consensus that the use of the cell phones when driving predisposes the usual occurrence of vehicle collision. And in effect attempts to address the associated risks. The studies elaborate the effects of cell phone use to the driver performance.

While driving, the driver might engage with the cell phone in a variety of ways: finding out the location of the cell phone in the vehicle, reaching out the cell phone to make a call or to receive a call and talking while driving with the phone held close to the hear among other antics. The effects to the driver are detrimental, as this will divide the mental attention, hence a lot of energy is used while driving. This is a leading factor that will predispose the driver to the danger of collision. Therefore, the studies show that the use of cells phones while driving changes the behavior of the driver.

Recommendation for policy makers

The continuing use of cell phones while driving has contributed to a significant percentage of motor collision. To prevent these incidents, the policy makers ought to tighten the laws to restrict the use of cell phones by the drivers. The drivers should avoid texting and calling or receiving calls while on the go. From the research results it follows that the major predisposing factor is the use of the cell phones while driving. The best approach is to sensitize and take measures against any driver involved to serve as an example. However, the regulators should not completely ban the use of hand held cell phones, but they should rather strike a balance through careful research on the benefits and risks of using the using the cell phone while driving.

Gaps in current research

More research need to be done to determine the benefits accrued from cell phone use while driving. These elaborate research need to explore alternative means of communication to be utilized by the drivers, which are safer and at the same time preserve the benefits derived from such communication while on the go.

Conclusion

It is clear that the policy makers face an uphill task in implementing a long- lasting solution in the transport industry. This is because the use of cell phones while driving cannot be easily detected by the policy makers in the event of a motor collision. Secondly, the importance of using a cell phone while driving has not been extensively studied in the same manner the associated risks have been studied. Lastly, the focus by the policy makers to avert collision by regulating cell phone use while driving is not sufficient when compared to the other traffic safety measures.

References

Cain, A., & Burris, M. (1999). Investigation of the use of mobile phones while driving. Tampa, FL:Center for Urban Transportation Research, University of South Florida.

Hahn, R. W., & Tetlock, P. C. (1999). The economics of regulating cellular phones in vehicles.

Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory

Studies.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (1997a). An investigation of the safety implications of wireless communications in vehicles. [online]. Available: