Does Mobile Phone Usage Increase the Risk of Traffic Accidents?
by Donald Statham, Susie Smith, Elliot Penderghast, and Felicia Jones

Note: This study is part of a wider investigation conducted by Norton College psychologists. The results of this wider investigation were published in the November 2001 issue of Psychosocial Behavior Today.

The use of mobile phones has risen dramatically over the past five years. As of July 1, 2001, more than 112 million people subscribe to mobile phone service in the United States alone. The increase in the number of mobile phone subscribers has mirrored the rise in the number of roadway accidents caused by drivers talking on mobile phones. Estimates suggest that mobile phone users spend as much as 60% of their total talk time while on the road.
The complete effects of mobile phone use on roadway safety are unknown, but state legislatures have made several attempts to restrict mobile phone use on the road. In these instances, the legislation assumes that any interference to safety from mobile phones use is due to secondary factors, such as dialing, or holding the phone while speaking. We conducted our research in an attempt to evaluate the validity of this assumption.
Existing research demonstrates the handling of equipment, such as dialing the phone, answering the phone, etc., increases the risk of accident. However, this research does not elaborate on the effects that mobile phone conversation has on driving. One study finds that conversation does not hinder the ability to maintain road position or to respond quickly to hazards. Prior studies have discovered that tasks like mental arithmetic, memory tasks, and reasoning tasks produce negative effects on simulated driving.
12
Select the correct answer.
Lennox is doing Internet research for a paper about cell phone use while driving. Lennox wants to prove that driving while using a cell phone is dangerous. He finds this article from the National Traffic Safety group at www.ntsg.org.

Why should Lennox not cite this source in his assignment?

A.
It has too many authors attached to the research.
B.
It gives statistics about how many people use cell phones.
C.
It was written in 2001, and that makes the research dated.
D.
It does not have information that supports Lennox's argument.