Side effect could be death

With its many capabilities, the cell phone has been the most prominent distracter of drivers on the road. Many of these distractions are caused by the inability for drivers to multitask while operating a motor vehicle. “The US Department of Transportation estimated that 25% of the 6.3 million crashes each year involve some degree of driver distraction or inattention." With the number of things drivers have to focus on, by removing the cell phone out of the picture, there will be less of a distraction. “While multitasking may seem to be saving time, psychologists, neurologists and others are finding that it can put us under a great deal of stress and actually make us less efficient”

In their study, Joel M Cooper and David L. Strayer investigated the effects of cell phone distracted driving and simulator practice. The study observed drivers while using a cell phone and requiring them to drive in a simulated driving experience. “In the study, a passenger acted as another set of eyes for the driver in the test and even stopped or started talking depending on the difficulty of conditions outside of the car. Meanwhile, half the drivers talking on a hands-free phone failed, bypassing the rest area he test had called for them to stop at. It was also found that while talking on the phone, it impaired the driver’s ability to engage the braking system of the vehicle; the reaction time was considerably lower than those not on the phone. This is what causes accidents in the real-world and what can be prevented.