Dying to make a call? Think Again!

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  What will it take - for people to quit using their cell phones while driving?

One man learned the hard way by killing a two-year-old girl after running a stop sign while dialing a cell phone.

The Pennsylvania Hilltown Township community mourned the loss of the little girl, Morgan Lee Pena in Dec. 1999 and they adopted a cell phone ban following the incident.

Tragedies such as this one can be prevented and more than 45 countries agree - they have already adopted the rules of banning cell phone use while driving, according to cellular-news. Many other countries have different variables and fines with restricting rules.

Starting Jan. 2, 2011, the Delaware State law comes into affect for an initial fine of $100 and processing court fees for drivers using a phone.

"Full situational awareness is important when operating a motor vehicle and the policy banning cell phone use while driving has been in effect for a while now," said Tech Sgt. Gary Stansberry, NCOIC plans and programs, 436th Security Forces Squadron. "If Airmen are caught, it can have a negative impact on their career because our military members are held to a higher standard and must conduct themselves according to military standards.

"Immediate supervisors and first sergeants will be notified, and commanders can review the citations," he said. "If enough tickets are accumulated this may prevent them from driving on base."

The Air Force Instructions 31-204 Dover Supplement states that vehicle operators on a Department of Defense installation and operators of government owned vehicles will not use cell phones unless the vehicle is safely parked or unless they are using a hands-free device.

There is, however, one exception to the rule, said Staff Sgt. Michael Lawrence, 436th SFS NCO In-charge of Police Services.

"The only exception is the walkie-talkie mode that is not a hands free device can be used for government owned or contracted cell phones," said Sergeant Lawrence. "Driving while using a cell phone is an additional distraction when driving that can deter your attention away from the road, that can cause a vehicle accident which can cause the results to be fatal. It's not safe."

A new study confirms that the reaction time of cell phone users slows dramatically due to these distractions, which increases the risk of accidents and tying up traffic in general. Cell phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the U.S. every year, according to the journal's publisher, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

"I believe the leading cause of car accidents are due to cell phone use and distractions while driving," said Staff Sgt. Frederick Quick, 436th SFS NCO In-charge of physical security. "Those who violate base driving regulations may receive infractions and have their driving privilege taken away or receive paperwork."

The sergeant says it is up to the squadron commander and chain of command will determine the course of action and make the final decisions for punishment.

"Tickets received on base will be reviewed by the first sergeant and commander, so there is a possibility Airmen may have their driving privileges revoked," said Col. Joan Garbutt, 436th Mission Support Group commander. "The conviction of leadership is doing the right thing when no one is looking and this is really an integrity issue which deals with one of our core values."

Colonel Garbutt believes the actions of a distracted driver will not only decrease their situational awareness, but they will also put their life and the lives of others in danger.

The colonel has viable reasoning to justify her belief - an estimated 2,600 deaths are caused per year due to American drivers using cell phones from a 2002 study by researchers from the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis.

"Due to the rise of motor vehicle accidents due to talking and texting, we're emphasizing the importance of personal safety by asking people to talk hands-free while driving - especially when there are children in the car," said the colonel.

A hands-free device is defined as any device that has both a speaker and a microphone to allow cell phone users to use their cell phone while driving, without using their hands to operate the device.

Military as well as civilians must comply with this base driving standard or else violators will be cited. Civilians and Reservists, who aren't on active orders, will pay a $100 fine.