A Dangerous Distraction

A year ago my friends seventeen year old sister was driving down the highway and texting. This spring she is graduating but because she is in a wheel chair, she won't be able to walk across the stage to receive her diploma.

Only now have people been looking in to the dangers of driving while using a cell phone. With the advancement of new technology, cell phones are not only phones, they are a distraction. Cell phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year, according to the journal's publisher, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

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This has created a major cause for concern. That is why many states have passed new laws enforcing no cell phone use while driving. Car companies have also caught on." In 2008, 918,000 hands-free systems were installed in cars, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. By the end of 2009, the industry group estimates, that figure will climb to 1.6 million systems"

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And for those who don't want to take any chances. There is a newer option for safe driving. A new call-blocking system. There are different companies like ZoomSafe, Aegis Mobility and odbEdge that offer this service. What this system does is it places restrictions of cell phones based on the phone's GPS signals to determine if someone is at driving speeds. The phone will not work until that person stops the car. I think this ne w system is good for those who really need to separate themselves from others while driving. Right now this system is an option and not mandatory. However, I could see this system being implemented very soon if the number of cell phone related accidents do not decrease.