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# Untitled
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/010908-story/
- Published: 2008-01-09T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T17:53:10.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Yekun Ding*

Drivers should be prohibited from using cell phones while driving. As we all know, cell phones are an important part of everyday life. Yet, when do you particularly know if a driver actually has given 100 percent to driving while taking on the phone at the same time? The person on the other end usually has something good to say that you would like to hear. Hmm...

First of all, there is almost always something interesting or exciting that the person on the other end has to say. This is highly dangerous to pedestrians. These attention-grabbing conversations can lead to lack of focus when driving. One of the reasons drivers don’t look both ways for pedestrians is because they are on the phone. Sometimes when I walk outside, drivers aren’t looking both because they are talking on the phone and it can easily be told that the person behind the wheel has loads of attention on the discussion and not anyone passing by. It has happened more than once. This is one of the reasons drivers should be banned from calling.

An estimated 6 percent of auto accidents are caused by phone-related incidents. Even though the percentage may seem very low, it means that, consequently, 2,600 people will be killed in a year and 330,000 will or might be injured. To add on, two out of five people admit they had close calls or misses while talking on the phone. This is very risky and can lead to disastrous endings.

Now you have heard my point of view on cell phones and driving. Though people do this every day, it can still lead to someone getting seriously hurt or injured, all because the driver was not paying attention. I know you think that cell phones will help people in case of an health emergency. And yes, they do. But most of the time, emergencies occur while not driving in a car, but rather when the car has stopped, so there are exceptions.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 9, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/010908.pdf?ref=smdp.com)