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You might see it as a common feature, but using your cellular phone while driving can prove to be a great danger. It is a hazard which may cost you your life. Cell phones are as life-threatening as drunk driving. So, the question you might ask yourself is “Does that mean that pressing my cellular phone to my ear while driving is far more dangerous than being drunk?” Well, the sad answer is, if you’re a cabbie, or otherwise get behind the wheel, yes.

It is not only a question of putting yourself at risk, but it implies that cell phone use on the wheel is endangering you and your fellow passengers. The harm that drunk driving causes is equivalent to cellular phone misuse behind the wheel.

Studies show that using cell phones either on hands-free or handheld distracts cab drivers and makes them more prone to disasters and car crash. 

A study conducted on drunk drivers and drivers with cell phones proved to be shocking. Researchers discovered that cell phone misuse on the wheel, made them drive sluggishly, brake at a snail's pace and there were far too many chances of car crash. In fact, the cab drivers who collided were the ones using cell phones and none of the drunk drivers did. The researchers concluded that drunk driving is very dangerous but talking on your cell phone is even worse. It is completely unacceptable and should be banned by society.

The results were first introduced and accepted in New York. Cell phone laws were established and there was a jurisdiction wide-ban on driving while using a cellular phone. Its cell phone ban has been effective from November 2001.

New York’s current laws banning cell phones while driving have not really made a huge impact on its cab drivers. The percentage of offenders came down from 2.3% to 1.1% immediately after the ban was put into action.  

Many States have not yet introduced laws regarding cell phone use.  Most States accept that cellular phones can be used in extreme cases such as accidents and illegal activities while driving. But driver inattention is a major factor in many severe crashes. It has proven to be between 20-50 % of all police-reported accidents. More than 500,000 accidents can be blamed annually on cell phone use, or in this case, misuse.

Nowadays, you can see all the cab drivers on their cell phones, rushing through the mad traffic making “sure” you’ll be there on time. But you might be wondering in your seat if you are actually safe in this car or if not whether you’ll finally reach your destination, well, safely. We have the answer to your concerns. Cab drivers who are using their cellular phones are very slow and monotonous in their behavior and driving patterns. They tend to compensate for this just by increasing their speed and covering their following distances rather recklessly.

Drunk cab drivers show a more ferocious driving style but are less dangerous than cell phone users. This is due to driver inattention. Driver distraction is a contributing factor which shows to be 8-13% of all fatal accidents. Crashes that have taken place due to cell phone misuse are the reason why the New York state has put severe laws into action.

There are stiff penalties being levied against offending cabbies as follows:

• Even wearing those ubiquitous Bluetooth or any electronic devices while driving will be considered an offense
• It’s OK to use a cell phone if the car is parked
• First offense of driving while on the phone: $ 200 and three penalty points
• If during a period of 15 months, they are caught more than twice : revocation of license and ability to drive the cab

These new regulations came into place since taxi drivers were previously flirting with the driving laws and ignoring them altogether.

A study conducted by the institute for highway safety, showed that laws introduced against texting or making calls while driving help in reducing such a behavior. There is no need to despair as there are many states which prohibit cab drivers from using handheld cell phones on the wheel.

But we have great news for you. Cell phone manufacturers have come up with a cell phone app named Zoomsafer which will make your life safer. Even if there are handsfree laws in many states, cab drivers still feel tempted to pick up their cellular phones behind the wheel. Once this app is installed on your cell phone, it will directly send the incoming calls or text messages to either your phone’s speaker or in-car Bluetooth device. For example, when you receive a text message while driving, the application will automatically send a standard reply that says "You're driving, cannot reply now.”

So, the next time you sit in your cab, you don’t have to be anxious because with the latest cell phone technology all your worries fade away. And that’s why cell phones are here, to make your lives safer and not endanger them.

Tags: cellular phone, cabbies in new york, phone penalties, cell phone penalties