NEWS phote Paul McGrath TRAFFIC THINS out after the evening rush hour on the Upper Levels Highway. Cellular Samaritans report emergencies SOME MONTHS ago in this column, I wrote about the safety implications of operating a cellular phone while driving. My concern was that manually dialing a number, picking up the handset, and so on, contributes to driver inattention, and could lead to traffic accidents. Cellular telephone networks are aware of this hazard, and actively encourage users to dial only when the vehicle is stopped, and to slow down or pull over during a call. In come countries, such as England, it is illegal to operate a handset while moving. Greg Wilson AUTOMOTION Rogers Cantel reports that the majority of cellular phones avail- able today have hands-free speakerphones and virtually ali have speed diaiing canability, enabling drivers to diai a number with a push of a button and keep both hands on the wheel while carrying on a conversation. The importance of keeping both hands on the wheel was made clear in a study of cellular phones by the California Highway Patrol in 1986. Some interesting conclu- sions were reached. Using a driving sirnulator which duplicated a number of urban driving situations, 72 drivers were observed while using a cellular phone in a number of different ways. Their performance was compared with driving with no distractions, and with the task of manually tuning a radio. The study indicated that manual dialing of a cellular phone caused a higher degree of inattention than tuning a radio, and significantly increased the probability of acci- dent involvement. Speed dialing and voice-activated dialing pres- ented less of a hazard than tuning a radio. The study alsc showed that when the phone was mounted high on the dash, in line with the driver’s field of vision, the proba- bility of accident involvement was less than half that of the centre console mounting location. The results of this study also indicated that the risk of injury from phones striking passengers in an accident was relatively insignif- icant. Though the dash-mounted phone was considered more of a hazard in a crash, its benefits in helping to avoid accidents was considered to outweigh its possible disadvantages in an accident. Another study conducted by the American Automobile Association and AT&T in 1985 indicated two other important benefits to cellular phones. Drivers with car phones tend to have fewer accidents than people without phones, even though they drive an average of twice as many kilometres per year as non-phone owners. One reason cited for this is that motorists with cellular phones can call ahead if they are late or stuck in traffic. The reduced tension and anxiety makes the driver less likely to speed or drive unsafely to make up for lost time. The other important benefit of cellular phones is their use in reporting accidents and crimes. Both the California Highway Patrol study and the AT&T study determined that drivers who called in to report accidents, dangerous See Pros Page 24 OVER $500,000, OF USED CARS IN STOCKIN * BASED ON $2000. DOWN OR EQUIVELANT VALUE. 12 MONTHS FINANCING, OAC. ofa Et CHOY 1170 MARINE DR. NORTH VANCOUVER Friday, August 17, 1990 - Nerth Shore News - 23 ¢ Cali Now!! NISSAN SALE Mega Million Dollar Checkered Flag Sell-Off! + TAX \ Leases on $2000 down over 60 months T.P. 20,387, PST. 1990 240 SX Hardtop or go topless, the choice ts yours! 1160 Marine Drive, North Vancouv rn 9.) on By stock rere k Vy Nenictes ils ‘INDY WEEK)\¢ Offer ends Aug. 31, 1990 DL 6127 er