The risks of using a cell phone while driving.

The risks of using a cell phone while driving.
Introduction.
Mobile phones first appeared in Britain during the 1980s, but were expensive and bulky. However, modern mobile phones are small,compact, easy to use and have become an essential part of life for many people. They enable people to maintain contact with family, friends and business associates. As well as the general communicationbenefits, access to a mobile phone also provides safety benefits by enabling people to alert breakdown or emergency services when necessary. However, there is considerable concern that using a mobilephone while driving creates a significant accident risk, to the user and to other people on the road, because it distracts the driver, impairs their control of the vehicle and reduces their awareness ofwhat is happening on the road around them.
Body.
When using a hand-held mobile phone, drivers must remove one hand from the steering wheel to hold and operate the phone.They must also take theireyes off the road, at least momentarily, to pick up and put down the phone and to dial numbers. While using a hand-held phone, the driver must continue to simultaneously operate the vehicle (steer,change gear, use indicators, etc) with only one hand. Although the physical distraction is far greater with hand-held phones, there is still some physical activity with hands-free systems. Even thoughthey do not need to be held during the call, the driver must still divert their eyes from the road to locate the phone and (usually) press at least one button. When mental (cognitive) tasks areperformed concurrently, the performance of both tasks is often worse than if they were performed separately, because attention has to be divided, or switched, between the tasks and the tasks must compete forthe same cognitive processes. When a driver is using a hand-held or hands-free mobile phone while driving, she or he must devote part of their attention to operating the phone and maintaining the...