Index IntroductionCauses of using a smartphone while drivingThe first cause: phone callsThe second cause: text messagesEffects of using a smartphone while drivingThe first effect: road accidentsThe Second Effect: Road/Property DamageSolutions to the Problem of Using Your Smartphone While DrivingTraditional SolutionsPutting Your Smartphone AwayLet Someone Else Do the WorkWear Reminders or Put an X on Your ThumbsModern SolutionsSmartphone Support AppsConclusionWork CitedIntroductionDistractions nowadays while driving are common, such as eating or drinking, looking at the scenery and talking to passengers. One of the most serious distractions is using your smartphone while driving. This distraction is a common problem that often leads to car accidents, causing loss of life and property damage. To solve it you need to show more awareness. Many countries have a rule of banning the use of smartphones while driving, and some have camera setups to detect those who do so and fine them to help reduce the consequences of this problem. The reason for this report is the frightening and alarming increase in smartphone use while driving over the last decade. This report will address the problem of smartphone use while driving, its causes, effects and possible solutions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Causes of Using Smartphones While Driving There are some causes for using smartphones while driving. In this report we will limit the discussion to the two most common ones. The First Cause: Phone Calls As cell phone ownership increases rapidly around the world, the use of cell phones in vehicles is also increasingly common. In addition to the growing use of portable cell phones, new vehicles are equipped with Bluetooth technology, which facilitates voice activation and hands-free phone use. Despite this, drivers still tend to use handheld smartphones. Part of the reason talking on a cell phone while driving is so dangerous is because our brains aren't physically capable of giving 100% of our attention to more than one task. This means that when you drive and talk on the phone, divide your attention between at least two actions: driving and talking (SafeWise Team 1). The Second Cause: Text Messages Text messages are more dangerous than phone calls because of the need to look at the phone to write and read. The percentage of drivers using text messaging while driving appears to be higher among young and/or inexperienced drivers. Effects of Using Smartphones While Driving There are also some effects of using smartphones while driving. The first effect: road accidents What are the reasons for the recent increase in the risk of having a road accident when using a smartphone? What makes a smartphone so dangerous when used in a vehicle? Smartphones potentially distract drivers in several ways. It physically distracts them. Instead of focusing on the physical tasks required of driving, drivers must use one or both hands to handle their phone. It also distracts them visually. The smartphone could visually distract drivers in two ways; First, drivers need to take their eyes off the road and focus on their smartphone in order to use it. Secondly, while talking on the smartphone, even if the drivers' eyes are focused on the road, they "look but don't see". Drivers can also be auditorily distracted.Drivers' focus shifts from the road environment to the sounds of the smartphone and conversation. This is especially true when the sound quality is poor. Cognitive distraction is another way to distract yourself from your smartphone. Instead of focusing their attention and thinking on driving, drivers divert their attention and focus on the topic of the telephone conversation (Research Department 3, 4). All of these types of distractions can lead to serious car accidents and very devastating outcomes. The second effect: Road/Property Damage Not only do the distractions mentioned above end up causing car accidents and damage to drivers' lives or vehicles, but they also damage roads and public/private property. For example, a car accident can ruin sidewalks, break fences, and destroy commercial signs and streetscapes, such as trees and bushes. Fortunately, some insurance companies cover property damage after a car accident. But this is not enough to allay the frustration of the owners of these properties. Some of them take such situations so seriously that they would sue the driver for his acts. Solutions to the Problem of Using Smartphones While Driving Using a smartphone while driving has drastically dismal results. Not surprisingly, the solutions to this problem are simple, but many smartphones that use drivers ignore these life-saving tricks. I will discuss some solutions in this report. Traditional Solutions Putting Your Smartphone Aside Muting the driver's phone or turning it off completely is a surefire way to avoid being distracted by it while driving. Of all the solutions for using smartphones while driving, this one requires the most premeditated effort. The advantage of this solution is to promote driving awareness. The disadvantage of this solution is that the driver cannot use his phone for other useful activities. driving functions such as navigation. Let someone else do the work The vast majority of people agree and recognize that the driver should not be using a smartphone. If there are other people in the car and you really need to send a message, passengers are usually happy to read and write the text for him/her. Advantage Helps promote awareness. Disadvantage It may invade the driver's privacy and does not work when the driver is alone. Wear reminders or put an X on your thumbs Use physical reminders like texting or drawing an X on your thumbs. This is a direct reminder to pay attention to the road.AdvantagePromotes social awareness about the issue.DisadvantageDoes not actually prevent smartphone use and driving.Modern solutionsSelf-driving cars (autopilot)A self-driving car is a vehicle that it is able to sense its environment and move safely with little to no human input. This type of car contributes significantly to reducing road accidents caused by inattention on the road, automatically controlling the mobility of the car when sensors installed in the bodywork detect the proximity of objects, such as other cars on the road, animals or even humans crossing the road. In the last 4 months of 2019, Tesla Inc., an American company producing self-driving cars, recorded only one accident every 4.94 million kilometers traveled in which drivers had activated Autopilot. However, among those who drove without autopilot, the company recorded one accident for every 2.63 million kilometers driven (Tesla 1). These statistics show how superior self-driving cars are like