The biggest danger of using a mobile phone while driving is death. Drivers that use mobile phones risk not only their own lives, but those of their own passengers and other drivers and passengers in other vehicles. In 2009, 5,474 people died in accidents due to distraction, and mobile phones are the largest cause of distraction, according to Distraction.gov, a website developed by the government to educate citizens about distracted driving. Distracted-driving fatalities accounted for 16 percent of traffic-accident fatalities.
Distracted-driving crashes also account for a large amount of injuries from car wrecks. In fact, Distracted.gov states that 20 percent of injuries from car accidents come from distracted driving, and cellphones are the leading cause of distracted-driving crashes. Drivers who talk on cellphones are slower to brake and take longer to regain speed after braking, according to Idaho 2-1-1. Drivers can get injured, but so can passengers in the driver's car and the people in surrounding vehicles.
While many states require drivers to use hands-free devices, these seem to also be dangerous. According to Idaho 2-1-1, drivers that use hands-free devices, such as wireless head pieces, headphones and speakerphones have to redial calls much more often than drivers that use handheld phones, leading to more distraction. The hands-free devices might also make drivers feel safer and, thus, lead to crashes. The act of talking on the phone either into a handheld or wireless device, in general, causes distraction.
Driving and using a cellphone is illegal in some states and cities. As of 2011, 31 states and the District of Columbia had laws against driving and texting at the same time. The penalties differed in each region, but usually included fines and even loss of license. In eight other states, using a handheld phone while driving is illegal. A police officer can pull you over and ticket you for using a handheld while driving. In these states, you must use a headpiece to speak on your phone and drive.
