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Cell Phones in the Hands of Drivers: a Risk or Benefit?

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Cell Phones in the Hands of Drivers: a Risk or Benefit?
Cell Phones in the Hands of Drivers
A Risk or a Benefit

Ariana Laguna

English 102
Professor Barnes/Walter
10 December 2012
Outline
THESIS: Unless the risks of cell phones are shown to outweigh the benefits, we should not restrict their use in moving vehicles: instead, we should educate the public about the dangers of driving while phoning and prosecute irresponsible phone users under laws on negligent and reckless driving.

I. Scientific studies haven't proved a link between use of cell phones and traffic accidents. A. A study by Redelmeier and Tibshirani was not conclusive, as the researchers themselves have admitted. B. Most states do not keep records on accidents caused by driver distractions. C. In a survey of research on cell phones and driving. Cain and Burris report that results so far have been inconclusive. II. The Risks of using cell phones while driving should be weighed against the benefits. A. At the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, researchers found that the risks of driving while phoning were small compared with other driving risks. B. There are safety, business, and personal benefits to using cell phones on the road. III. We need to educate drivers on using cell phone responsibly and enforce laws on negligent and reckless driving. A. Educating drivers can work B. It is possible to enforce laws against negligent and reckless driving; in states that do not do an adequate job of enforcement, the pueblo can lobby for improvement.

Cell Phones in the Hands of Drivers:
A Risk or Benefit? As of 2000, there were about ninety million cell phone users in the United States, with 85% of them using their phones while on the Road (Sundeen !). Because of evidence that cell phones impair drivers by distraction them, some states have considered laws restricting their use in moving vehicles. Proponents of legislation correctly point out those using phones while driving can be dangerous. The


Cited: Ambros, Anthony. Letter. New England Journal of Medicine 337.2 (1997): 128. Print. Cain, Alasdair, and Mark Burris. "Investigation of the Use of Mobile Phones while Driving." Center for Urban Transportation Research. Coll. of Engineering, U of South Florida, Apr. 1999. Cohen, Peter J. Letter. New England Journal of Medicine 337.2 (1997): 127. Print. Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. "Cellular Phones and Driving: Weighing the Risks and Benefits. "Risk Perspective. President and Fellows of Harvard Coll.,July 2000. Web. 15 Mar. 2001. Jacobs, Annette. "guest Opinion: No News Laws Needed for Driver Distractions. "Wireless Week. Advantage Business Media, 24 May 1999. Web. 12 Mar. 2001. Kilgannon, Corey. "Road Warriors with Laptops." New York Times 15 Aug. 2000: A23. Print. Redelmeier, Donald A., and Robert J. Tibshirani. "Association between Cellular- Telephone Calls and Motor Vehicle Collisions. "New England Journal of Medicine 336.7 (1997): 453-58. Print. Sundeen, Matt. "Cell Phones and Highway Safety: 2000 State Legislative Update. "National Conference of State Legislatures. Natl. Conf. of State Legislatures, Dec. 2000. Web. 11 Mar. 2001. United States of Transportation. Natl. Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "An Investigation of the Safety Implications of Wireless Communication in Vehicles." NHTSA. Natl. Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nov. 1997. Web. 12 Mar. 2001.
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