Those Against Cell Phones: Cellular Devices Can Prove Fatal

“Cell Phone Use Leads to ‘Inattention Blindness’ and Can Prove Fatal”, an article written by William Saletan, describes the risk factors and mental functions of a human who is texting and driving. According to Saletan, when people talk or text on their phones while driving, they become blinded to what is going on around them, a problem known as “cognitive capture” or “inattention blindness”. Saletan argues that the use of a cell phone while driving is multitasking, a skill required for many jobs, but multitasking behind the wheel can have lethal consequences. In September of 2008, 25 people died and 130 more were injured in a train and car crash near Los Angeles. The apparent cause was a cell phone. Accidents like this are the reason Saletan is so against the use of cellular devices while driving. He admits though, that cell phones are useful. People can connect to others across the country and escape their own environment. But, people who are driving need to be in their physical environment, in control and focused. In California, Michigan, and Texas, police reports prove that the annual cell phone related road accidents exceed 1,000 per state and over one million tickets have been issued for holding phones at the wheel in New York alone. But, despite all the warnings and punishments, the use of a cell phone while driving still persists. Saletan explains that people are “so enslaved to mobile devices that [they] rely on them even to translate the physical world”. And, a hands-free device is not going to fix anything, according to Saletan. In fact, even with a hands-free device, talking on one’s phone can impair their driving more than intoxication. Saletan’s solution for the problem is simply waiting until off the road for the use of a cell phone. In source B, Saletan discusses the risks associated with the use of a cell phone while driving and discourages any operation of a cell phone while in a car.

Source: 

Saletan, William. "Cell Phone Use Leads to 'Inattention Blindness' and Can Prove Fatal." The Washington Post 23 Oct. 2008: n. pag. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Jan.2011.<http://find.galegroup.com/gps/retrieve.do?contentSet=GSRC&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&qrySerId=Locale(en,,):FQE%3D(ke,None,10)cell+phone$&sgHitCountType=None&inPS=true&sort=Relevance&searchType=BasicSearchForm&tabID=T001&prodId=IPS&searchId=R1¤tPosition=11&userGroupName=farm12971&docId=EJ3010743205&docType=GSRC>.

Those For Cell Phones: Cell Phones Designed to Save Lives

In her article, “Cell Phones Designed to Save Lives”, Elizabeth Woyke writes of the benefits associated with the use of cell phones, especially in emergency or crisis situations. In California, there are many natural disasters that occur, including fierce storms and surprise earthquakes. In these situations, text message alerts from the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services are sent via cell phone to masses of people in order to warn them of the disaster. Cell phones have functioned as emergency calling for a long time, but technology today has increased its benefits. Cell phones are becoming “genuine safety devices”. With its unique functions, including flashlights, heart monitors, global positioning data transmitters and message warnings, the cell phone can save lives. Even the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is working to use the cell phone to their nationwide safety advantage. The FCC is developing a mobile alert system to distribute national emergency, local emergency, and child abduction alerts across the country. These efforts work to create a public safety communications network on the radio spectrum. While this is still developing, companies and organizations are making their own mobile safety networks, including the Crime Stoppers USA. This program allows anyone who spots something suspicious, whether it be a drug deal or a robbery, to send a crime tip to the police via text message. Mobile phones can even help when the user is injured or incapacitated. Services can log the locations of cell phones in order to send help and information about the crash. Cellular devices do pose threats, but advocates and many local governments agree “that mobile safety functions are getting smarter” and are able to save many lives. 

Source:

Woyke, Elizabeth. "Cell Phones Designed to Save Lives." Forbes on MSNBC. N.p.,13 May 2008. Web. 16 Jan. 2011.  <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24489812/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/>.

Those Against Cell Phones: Texting While Driving is Dangerous!

 “If you text while driving… stop!”, by Prentiss Findlay, describes the deadly hazards associated with the common act of texting while driving. Some, like Annie Justiss, think that this behavior is a problem, but admit to doing it themselves. Their justification of this is, “That’s the way everyone communicates now. It’s real quick and to the point”. Others, like Richard Geisert, believe that texting or any use of a cellular device in a car should be disallowed due to its likely deadly effects. The Foundation for Traffic Safety aims at texting and driving with a message that will be presented on billboards and television. These advertisements may be “disturbing”, but they are there to “create a lasting impression that texting while driving is dangerous”, said Tom Crosby, president of the foundation. Dave Parsons, CEO and president of AAA Carolinas, hopes the advertisements will create an “emotional response” that “will help raise awareness and change deadly distracted driving behavior”. The AAA is not the only one attempting to get rid of the texting and driving situations. In 2010, the state of South Carolina’s House voted to outlaw texting while driving, but the Senate did not follow through. The same year, the U.S. government banned its employees from texting while driving in federal vehicles. Research has proven that drivers take their eyes off the road more than 80 percent of the time when texting and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has concluded that drivers who use handheld cellular devices are four times more likely to get in serious car accidents. According to source A, cellular use while driving is very dangerous and poses threats to the safety of the driver and others on the road, outweighing the benefits of cellular use while in transit.

Source: 

Findlay, Prentiss. "If You Text While Driving...Stop!" The Herald Online. N.p., 30 Dec. 2010. Web. 16 Jan. 2011. <http://www.heraldonline.com/2010/12/30/2719235/if-you-text-while-driving-stop.html>.

Overview

Question:
Do the risk factors associated with cell phone usage overshadow the benefits that are touted by the cell phone manufacturers?
                                                           
Cell phones create challenges throughout the world. Texting while driving is one of those serious problems. This video is a campaign against texting while driving that was designed and created by AT&T.

Video

This video truly demonstrates the deadly affects a cell phone can cause. Only a few moments can change the trajectory of so many lives. Yet, there are many benefits of cell phone usage. Cell phones can be lifesaving devices used by those who are in some kind of crisis situation and they can also prevent many things from happening with their ability to spread warnings of upcoming events. In this blog, the pros and cons of cell phone usage will be discussed using many different tools. Which side you are on?