Cell phones distracting to drivers

5/27/2009 By Lance Cpl. Lucas G. Lowe , Marine Corps Base Quantico
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. —

Anyone who uses cell phones at the wheel on base can expect to get their driving privileges suspended for one week and be faced with a mandatory court appearance.

Marine Corps Base Order P5560.2D prohibits talking on a cell phone while driving. It’s one of the most dangerous things you can do, said Staff Sgt. Jowa J. Wildes, Security Battalion’s chief accident investigator.

“Cell phones are distracting, and some people can’t multitask. Anything you do besides concentrate on the road takes away from your total control of the wheel,” said Wildes.

Using cell phones is not the only distraction drivers face.

“I’ve seen people reading magazines or newspapers on their way to work,” said Cpl. Shane Weller, an accident investigator with Security Battalion. Weller said he routinely reprimands drivers for using their cell phones on the road.

“Every day people get pulled over for talking on their cell phones while they’re driving,” Wildes said.

“If you tried, you could catch someone doing it every three minutes, probably,” said Weller.

The exception to the rule against cell phones is the use of hands-free devices, such as the Bluetooth headset or OnStar.

The ability of a person to carry on a conversation and drive at the same time remains relative, Wildes said.

“Eighty-four percent of cell phone users stated they believe using a cell phone while driving increases their risk of being in a collision,” said Wildes.

About one in 20 crashes is cell phone related, said Wildes, and many people do not admit to talking on a cell phone when it may have involved them getting into an accident.

People would stop using cell phones while driving if they faced harsher penalties, such as having to fulfill the same requirements as those who are convicted of reckless driving on Marine Corps installations, said Weller.

“If cell phone violations were made comparable to reckless driving offenses, the offenses would stop,” said Wildes.

Under the penalty for reckless driving on base, Marines are must attend a Saturday course called Remedial Driving wearing the service “C” uniform.

“That’s an eight-hour class on a Saturday in charlies,” said Weller. “I don’t think anybody wants to go through that.”

People who use the speakerphone option on their phones are still technically in violation, since the phone still has to b held in one hand. The same applies to phones with the “push-to-talk” feature.

Correspondent: lucas.lowe@usmc.mil

Ellie