Cell Phone Ban Approved In Oklahoma

In the state of Oklahoma a new bill has passed. One that could indeed save many lives. Its the bill to ban cell phones while driving. It has been approved. Yet there are many that disagree with this bill? It only takes a few seconds to take your eyes off the road to due the damage. Several studies show cell phones are a leading cause of car crashes. It is estimated that cell phone distracted drivers are four times more likely to be in a car wreck. According to a Harvard University study, cell phones cause over 200 deaths and half a million injuries each year. In 2008, at any given moment, over 800,000 Americans were texting, making calls, or using a handheld cell phone while driving during the daytime. With distracted driving killing nearly 6,000 Americans in the same year, it's no mystery that cell phone use is risky for drivers.

This accident happened on September 28th, 2005 in Riverview FL. A careless driver on a cell phone blazed through a red light at 55 mph and struck this women's driver side door as she was going 20 mph attempting to make a left turn towards home. Her car was pushed 40 feet and her neck was broken in 2 places. She died instantly. She left behind 2 daughters and her fiance' (she was due to marry him the next week) , brother and grandson. My heart goes out to there family.


Teen Driver Cell Phone and Texting Statistics

•Despite the risks, the majority of teen drivers ignore cell phone driving restrictions.

•Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver's reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old.

•56% of teenagers admit to talking on their cell phones behind the wheel, while 13% admit to texting while driving. (Note: Because this information was given voluntarily by teens, actual cell phone use numbers may be much higher.)

•48% of young Americans from 12-17 say they've been in a car while the driver was texting.

•52% of 16- and 17-year-old teen drivers confess to making and answering cell phone calls on the road. 34% admit to text messaging while driving.

•In 2007, driver distractions, such as using a cell phone or text messaging, contributed to nearly 1,000 crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers.

•Over 60% of American teens admit to risky driving, and nearly half of those that admit to risky driving also admit to text messaging behind the wheel.

•Each year, 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result has been expected to grow as much as 4% every year.

•Almost 50% of all drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 are texting while driving.

•Over one-third of all young drivers, ages 24 and under, are texting on the road.

•Teens say that texting is their number one driver distraction.


We see how dangerous it can be to text and drive by the statics. I think that the statics would be lower if we didn't have the Iphone. I know that with the older model phones you can feel the numbers/letters on the phone and know how to push the buttons with out even looking at it. Although this does not mean that you cant be distracted while doing that either. On the Iphone though, you have to look at it to make sure even if you have predicted text. I think this would cause more deaths due to texting and driving. What do you think about this new law? Has anyone that you know been in an accident due to a cell phone?