Mobile phone use while driving and traffic accident risk

¶ … Hazards of Using Mobile Phone While Driving

Traffic accidents have become major public health risks in the recent past because of their increase in the recent past. The United Arab Emirates has experienced a significant increase in the number of traffic accidents in the recent past to an extent that it has the eighth highest national rate of accidents across the globe. The increase in traffic accidents is attributed to various factors including the behaviors of drivers when driving. Drivers' behaviors have been affected by various factors including the use of mobile phones while driving. The use of mobile phones while driving is linked to several hazards including the likelihood of traffic accidents since a mobile phone is a distraction that can result in accidents. Drivers should be required to stop using mobile phones while driving, in order to eliminate accidents caused by the use of mobile phone which is known by distracting driver's focus, hence causes fatal and deadly crashes.

Why Mobile Phones are Hazardous while Driving

As previously mentioned, mobile phones are hazardous while driving and can cause fatal and deadly crashes. The consideration of mobile phones as hazardous while driving is attributed to the fact that it is a distraction that affects a driver's concentration while on the road. According to Solon (2011) using a mobile phone while driving is a distraction that has contributed to fatal and deadly traffic accidents. While the link between reduced mobile phone use and reduction in traffic accidents is not established, it is quite clear that using a mobile phone is a distraction that can contribute to fatal and deadly accidents through distracting a driver's concentration and focus while on the road. Ruiz (2014), states that more than a third of motorists who admit using their cell phones regularly while driving, lose concentration and focus since their full attention is not always on the road. The distraction that emerges from the use of a mobile phone while driving contributes to risky behaviors among motorists or drivers. The distraction result in drivers swerving lanes, misjudging traffic conditions and driving too close to other vehicles, which are the main causes of traffic accidents.

Impact of Age on Mobile Phone Use while Driving

As the use of mobile phones while driving has increased significantly in the recent past, there are significant differences in the age groups of those who use these devices. According to a survey conducted on mobile phone use while driving, 64% of those who use cell phones while driving are between 18 and 30 years old (Ruiz, 2014). Apart from accounting for a significant portion of motorists who use mobile phones while driving, this age group also accounts for the highest number of traffic accidents. Therefore, age plays a crucial role in individual's desire and tendency to use mobile phones while driving. Younger motorists tend to use mobile phones while driving as compared to their older or aged counterparts.

Reasons Likely to Cause Accidents

In addition to regulatory measures implemented to clamp down on this trend, government officials have also focused on encouraging motorists to think twice before using their cell phones while driving in order to promote their safety (Taher, 2013). However, there are various reasons for the use of mobile phones by motorists while driving, which are different with regards to their likelihood to cause accidents. Motorists are more likely to cause accidents when using their mobile phones to text, surf, taking selfies or send emails. These are considered very dangerous behaviors that enhance the risk of traffic accidents.

Impact of New Laws on Mobile Phone Use while Driving

As previously mentioned, one of the measures adopted to eliminate or lessen the use of mobile phones while driving is implementation of new regulations for governing UAE's transport sector. Based on a 2011 report, drivers in parts of UAE were expected to become more reluctant to use their cell phones while driving because of the enactment of new tough laws that incorporate heavy fines (Dubai Media Incorporated, 2011). The new laws will discourage drivers from using their phones while driving because of the harsh penalties to be enforced for violators of the new regulations. Drivers are likely to become more reluctant to use their cell phones because the new laws also give law enforcement agencies more powers to deal with this habit or behavior.

In conclusion, the use of mobile phones while driving has increased in the recent past despite its role in increased traffic accidents. Mobile phone usage while on the road is hazardous since it is a distraction that contributes to risky behaviors that cause traffic accidents. As a result, the government has adopted several measures to deal with this issue by enacting new laws. These laws will deal with the issue by making motorists reluctant to use their phones on the road.