I’ve posted on a couple other CELL PHONES MUST BE BANNED threads the following point:
Over the prior 15 years, the gross amount of accidents in the US have DECLINED. This has occurred in the time frame that cell phones have gone from rarely in driver’s possession to being predominantly in cars.
If cell phone use was a major factor causing vehicle accidents, then there is no way we’d have experienced a decline in crashes with more than 5 times the number of cell phone subscribers in 2011 versus 1996.
It’s simply not possible. People who believe otherwise (and they usually cite how they were in an accident where someone else was on the phone) are like people who tell me there’s man-made global warming because it was hot in Cedar Rapids yesterday. The facts/statistics don’t support their anecdotal opinions.
“The facts/statistics don’t support their anecdotal opinions.”
You say anecdote, I say personal experience.
Do we ignore personal experience and judgement because somebody else’s stats say we should?
Personal experience: On my freeway commute home, somebody in the middle lane drifts, drifts, drifts over the line into the next lane, then yanks back the wheel at the last second. All the hallmarks of a drunk driver.
You pass that guy, and he’s either texting, holding a phone to his ear, or talking into a headset.
But still I should ignore what I see every day on the freeway?
I’ve never seen or experienced an accident caused by drinking coffee, eating a Big Mac, putting on make-up, etc.
I’ve seen and experienced accidents caused by cell phone users.
Try and muddy the waters again about how accidents are down in the US, without pointing out that A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THEM are caused by cell phone use.