Potential Hazards of Cell Phone Usage While on the Road

¶ … 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.

Measures for Eliminating Use of Mobile Phones while Driving

Generally, the use of cell phones while driving is illegal in the United Arab Emirates despite increased tendencies by motorists to do so. In addition to enacting laws that prohibit this practice, UAE government officials have adopted other measures towards eliminating mobile phone use while driving. One of these measures to clamp down the behavior is harsh penalties for motorists arrested for violating regulations relating to using a cell phone while driving (Nagraj, 2014). Secondly, drivers or motorists arrested for using their cell phones while on the road will receive four black points on their licenses as part of punishment for breaking transport regulations. The third measure for clamping down on motorists who use their cell phones on the road is confiscation of vehicles after receiving twelve black points due to breaching the new transport regulations.

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