In the scientific community and in the media, there is much clamorous debate about whether electromagnetic frequency radiation from wireless devices can cause cancer. Thousands of articles have been written and millions of dollars of research has been performed, and so far the conclusion has been that the detrimental impact of electromagnetic frequency radiation on one’s health is insignificant, perhaps even nonexistent. The real menace lurks unnoticed in the shadow of sensationalist hype.
Every day, consumers use wireless technology while driving, without considering that distracted driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. If a user looks down at a mobile device for only five seconds at typical highway speed, he travels more than the length of a football field in only five seconds. Thus, wireless technologies that are visual and draw the driver’s eyes away from the road should be avoided. According to a study performed by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), dialing a cell phone increases the risk of collision by 2.8 times for light vehicles and 5.9 times for heavy vehicles and trucks that are more difficult to stop. The risk of merely talking or listening to a cell phone, however, was less significant than expected, increasing the risk of a crash or near-crash event by only 1.3 times.
The risk incurred by texting while driving makes the risk of talking on a cell phone while driving appear relatively insignificant by comparison. According to Rich Hanowski, who oversaw the study at VTTI, “texting while driving is in its own universe of risk.” For heavy vehicles, collision risk was a staggering 23 times greater when drivers were texting than when they were not texting. As the generation of frequent text message senders reach driving age, text messaging while driving has the potential to cause a crash epidemic.
The dangers of texting are not limited to distracted driving. The texting craze is rapant among teenagers; the average teenager sends and receives 80 messages a day, or nearly 2,300 per month. This can lead to repetitive stress injuries in the thumbs, similar to carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrists.
Texting also has an impact on the social development and education of teenagers. Rather than speaking to their friends face-to-face, many teenagers communicate predominantly at a distance through short text messages. It is quite possible that this can lead to under-developed communication skills, both written and oral. Psychologically, the pressure to answer text messages in a short time is high, leading to incomplete, fragmented thoughts and short attention spans. Finally, texting is difficult to regulate in the classroom, so many students send texts during classes rather than paying attention to the material presented.
These are the hidden dangers of wireless technology. They get no recognition because they aren’t as sensational as cancer-causing radiation. Thus, addressing these dangers should begin with increasing consumer awareness. Consumers should realize how texting while driving is as irresponsible as drunk driving because of the increased collision risk. Parents should recognize the detrimental effect texting can have on the social and educational well-being of their children and decide what limitations to place on their child’s texting habit. However, it should not be assumed that raising consumer awareness will guarantee more responsible use of wireless technology. Some consumers may be reluctant to change their habits, so legislation should be passed to ban texting while driving and perhaps even to ban cell phone use completely by teenage drivers.
Finally, new technologies should be developed to reduce the distractions of wireless technology in the car. Ford has already developed a technology called the Sync system, which uses voice commands to control cell phones and music devices in the car. Technologies like this should continue to be promoted in order to reduce or eliminate the need to visually interface with a wireless device while driving. With these solutions, consumers can reduce hidden risks without being deprived of the convenience provided by wireless technology.
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