According to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission, the single most prevalent cause of distraction for motorists is attention to wireless devices, including cell phones. Statistics indicate that people who use a cell phone (without a Bluetooth or similar device) while driving increase their risk of serious accidents four-fold. One in four crashes reported to police involve a driver who was distracted.

It’s not just the fact that a cell phone will take your attention off the road.  The University of Utah studied the use of cell phones by drivers, and the research demonstrated that, regardless of whether the phone was hand-held or hands free, the use of a cell phone slowed the driver’s reaction time to an extent comparable with driving while legally intoxicated. Research by Carnegie Mellon Institute confirmed this, finding that the use of a cell phone while driving reduces brain activity by nearly 40%.