Glossary

Automotive accidents – refers to accidents involving cars and other motor vehicles as a result of the use of cellphones while driving. Various studies have confirmed that cellphone use is truly a distraction while on the road and can endanger the lives of drivers, their passengers and pedestrians. Reports also have it that automotive accidents resulting from cellphone use while driving is increasing. Split-second accidents can cause trauma, permanent injury or disability and even death.

Cellphone ban – refers to the prohibition of the use of mobile phones while driving. Many countries worldwide have imposed a cellphone ban for drivers following reports of traffic accidents resulting from the use of cellphones while driving. In the U.S., 21 states have carried out a partial or total ban on cellphones with corresponding fines for violators.

Cellphone safety – refers to the proper use of cellular phones to protect a person’s health and life in general. Cellphone safety here specifically pertains to the proper usage of mobile phones while driving. This issue has been the subject of numerous studies in the past years as a result of an increasing number of automotive accidents involving the use of mobile phones while driving. Cellphone safety means observing traffic rules and regulations.

Cellular phone – also known as mobile phone. It is a portable electronic device used for mobile communication. Apart from its standard voice function, a mobile phone also supports other services such as SMS (short messaging service) for text messaging, email, packet switching for access to the internet and MMS (multimedia service) for sending and receiving photos and video. Mobile phones are connected to a cellular network of base stations also called cell sites which are also interconnected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

NHTSA – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the U.S. government’s Department of Transportation with a mission to save lives, prevent injuries and lessen traffic-related health care and other economic costs through the regulation, enforcement, economic incentives, educational programs, basic and applied research and technology demonstration programs.