Should using mobile phones while driving be
banned?
There is a lot of research which suggests
that using mobile phones while driving is the cause of a growing number of
traffic accidents.
There are of course
two sides to any argument. Having a mobile phone with you in the car is, in
fact, a very sensible precaution. For example, women driving alone at night are
at risk and knowing they can use their mobiles to summon help in an emergency is
an important security factor. Similarly, if you are driving in a remote area,
for example in the desert here in the UAE, it’s essential to have a mobile to
get help if you break down. In reality, your life could depend on
it.
Having said all this, there is no
reason why you should use your phone while actually driving. It is always
possible to find a safe place to stop before answering or using your phone.
There is very little doubt that using a phone while driving, even a hands-free
device, is a major distraction. It is very difficult to do two things safely and
simultaneously if one of them is driving. Driving today requires maximum
concentration. It has become a major problem worldwide, so much so that dozens
of countries have outlawed the use of handheld phones while driving. In the UK,
indeed, it is estimated that 90% of public responses have been in favour of such
a ban.
Having your mobile with you in
your car is a sensible, perhaps even necessary, precaution. However, you should
always find a safe place to park before using it. There is overwhelming evidence
that phoning and driving at the same time is a major cause of accidents
worldwide.
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