| ding to the “mobileherald.com”, as of | | | | Opponents of these bans believe the Law singles out |
| 2006 the statistical breakdown worldwide, of the | | | | cell phones when there are many other causes for |
| percentage of households, by country, that own | | | | distracted driving. Also, some say banning hand-held |
| mobile phones are: Japan at 95%, South Korea at | | | | cell phones adds little to address the larger problem |
| 94%, China at 93%, France at 85%, Germany at | | | | of distracted driving, and could actually encourage |
| 83%, and the UK at 79%. The article also sites a | | | | riskier habits, such as BlackBerry usage or text |
| prediction by Nokia, that by 2009, there will be over | | | | messaging. If you're a stats person, you may find |
| 3 Billion people using mobile phones worldwide. The | | | | this Paper - - on the “Effect of Car Phone |
| 2005 Cell Phone Ownership statistic was 66% of the | | | | Usage on Cognitive Ability and Driving |
| population, that’s a population of 297 million | | | | Performance”, a very interesting read. Much |
| people of which 197 million own cell phones. | | | | to the disagreement of the above opponents, the |
| According to an article in the MIT Communications | | | | results of this study concluded that “car |
| Forum, dated November 2005, by Peter Rauch, then | | | | phone use is dangerous and caution should be |
| the global ownership of cell phones was | | | | used”. But “Opponents” |
| approximately 2 billion users, and in some countries | | | | don’t despair yet! A New Zealand Fact Finding |
| (he didn’t say which), there are more cell | | | | Article entitled “Cell Phone Use While Driving - |
| phones than people. Oh my. | | | | Summary of Research and Analysis", studying car |
| New York State, effective November 2001, banned | | | | accidents and cell phone usage, drew a conclusion at |
| the use of hand-held cell phones. Governor George | | | | the time the study was compiled, September 2003, |
| Pataki, was quoted in a June 2001 article posted by | | | | that cell phone usage was not a significant factor in |
| CNN, as saying, using a cell phone while driving poses | | | | car crashes, compared to other distractions. Whether |
| "an enormous threat to public safety." Handheld Cell | | | | this conclusion for New Zealand today, still stands, |
| Phone devices are currently banned in Connecticut, | | | | probably requires another study. |
| New Jersey DC, and Washington DC. Californians are | | | | Well, to sum this up, according to an article in the |
| going to have to go handsfree as well in 2008, | | | | December 2006 issue of USA Today, entitled, |
| according to the Law signed by Governor | | | | “Distracted driving big cause of |
| Schwarzenegger in the fall of 2006. | | | | crashes”, “distracted driving is |
| In Canada, the only province at this time to have a | | | | emerging as nearly as serious a factor as speeding |
| ban on the use of hand-held cell phones while driving, | | | | and impaired driving...”, so it would certainly be |
| is Newfoundland and Labrador. Other provinces are | | | | foolish to leave this article thinking |
| being pressured into passing similar legislation, and this | | | | “it’s all the fault of the cell |
| fall, Quebec may enact a similar law. Part of the | | | | phone”. In fact, in this same article it sites |
| hesitation of such laws, is the concern for the lack of | | | | Washington States tracking of 12 specific driver |
| precedence and the challenges that ultimately come | | | | distractions as outlined in a recent study by the |
| with new Laws. Collision statistics for Newfoundland | | | | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| from 2003 to 2005 indicate a reduction of accidents | | | | (NHTSA). Cell Phone Usage did rank in first place as |
| by eight percent. | | | | the top item causing driver distraction. The other top |
| More than 30 countries have outlawed the use of | | | | distractions are DVD Players, Satellite Radios, |
| hand-held cellphones while driving, including Australia, | | | | Hand-Held Organizers, iPods, Global Positioning |
| Germany and Japan. Here’s a very useful | | | | Systems, Kids, Pets, Fast Food, Hot Beverages, |
| web-page, providing a detailed list of Countries that | | | | Newspapers, Road Side Accidents, and Signs & |
| have banned cell phones while driving - A very useful | | | | Billboards. I think that’s 13? |
| web-page for travelers by car. | | | | |