8/29/2012 - By Harrell's

Did you know that use of a cell phone while driving is equivalent to having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08? Or drivers that use cell phones while driving are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves?

Most people are aware that cell phone use while driving can be a distraction and inhibit a person’s ability to drive correctly, but often as an issue for other drivers, not for themselves. Have you ever been the passenger of someone driving and texting, thinking “This person needs to pay attention!” Think for a moment about your passengers; Babies, children, spouses, friends, etc. You would never knowingly put their lives in danger.

According to Virginia Tech/NHTSA, the No. 1 source of driver inattention is use of a wireless device. Carnegie Mellon also came out with study that showed that driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. In other words, if you are using your phone while driving you are dividing your concentration between the road and your phone. Is talking or texting on your phone more important than your safety or the safety of others?

In 2009, close to 5,500 people died and 500,000 were injured in crashes involving preoccupied drivers.  According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, drivers reaching for cell phones while driving are three times more likely to be involved in a crash.  Drivers dialing hand-held phones while driving increase their risk by six times.

But these statistics only count for other drivers... not you, right?  If you are still thinking that you can still use your cell phone and operate your vehicle safely, just remember that other drivers are thinking the same thing.  Other drivers are on the road using their cell phones while you, your family, your friends and your coworkers are on the road.

Wouldn’t you like to know that those you love will arrive at their destination safely?  Other drivers would want their loved ones to arrive safely as well.  Please think before you use your cell phone while driving.  If a call or text is important, please pull over and give the person on the phone the undivided attention they need or try using a hands free bluetooth unit while driving.  Give others on the road the respect and attention you would want for your own well-being.