Can You Talk Yourself To Death??

To talk or not to talk? That is the question. The debate on whether or not to ban cell phones while driving has been ping-ponged back and forth for the past decade. The devices once thought of only as props on the set of Star Trek, are now in use by over 95 million people in America alone. Many politicians and public safety officials have accused cell phones of being a leading factor in the increasing number of automobile accidents. But are they? It is very easy to manipulate statistical information to strengthen arguments, but closer investigation can reveal certain weaknesses, such as unrepresentative samples or alternative causes.

Every day bad drivers can be seen chatting away with one hand on the wheel and the other clamping the phone to their heads. So, naturally the assumption is made that the driver is distracted because of the use of the telephone. This hasty conclusion has lead to large numbers of propositions for the banning of hand held cell phones while drivin...