In a 2009 survey, 81 percent of drivers said they talked on their cell phone while driving. Yet despite the prevalence of car cell phones, whether they are a good idea is still being debated. For example, car phones are linked with accidents: 45 percent of drivers said they had, or almost had, an accident with a cell phone user, said "The New York Times." Yet some suggest that benefits, like being able to quickly reach emergency services, might equal the risks.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of having a cell phone in your car is being able to call emergency services at a moment's notice. For major emergencies, when time is of the essence, being able to quickly reach emergency services is critical. Having a cell phone also prevents minor emergencies, like being stranded with a flat tire on a lonely road, from potentially escalating into more serious matters, says "The New York Times."
However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says cell phones in cars can sometimes result in too many calls to emergency services. Emergency services can get overwhelmed by multiple calls reporting the same accident and have a longer response time as a result.
According to David Strayer, a psychology professor and researcher at the University of Utah, people who multitask while driving are four times more likely to have an accident. Research suggests that talking or texting on cell phones are some of the worst forms of multitasking, because they engages multiple areas of the brain and reduce reaction time. Talking to a passenger is not considered as dangerous or distracting because passengers can help watch the road and are likely to quiet down if road conditions deteriorate, says an article in "The New York Times."
There are a variety of benefits to having a cell phone in the car. For example, the ability to call and check directions keeps people from wandering around lost. Drivers being able to call their destinations and say they're running late might reduce pressure to hurry, which in turn reduces the urge to speed. Using cell phones to conduct business during gridlock also allows commuters to make use of time that would otherwise simply be spent sitting in traffic, according to The Independent Institute.
Increasingly, having a cell phone in your car opens you up to legal repercussions. As of October 2010, text messaging while driving is banned in 30 states and the District of Colombia. Talking on your hand-held cell phone while driving is illegal in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Any cell phone use by novice drivers is prohibited in 28 states and the District of Colombia. Local jurisdictions within states also have their own cell phone usage rules.
