World News and Trends: Drivers + cell phones = dangerous combination
Studies reveal that cell phone usage while driving increases risk of accidents and distracted driving.
As far back as 2003, a study by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis estimated that cell phone use while driving caused 6 percent of all U.S. vehicle crashes and 2,600 deaths each year (David Teater, "How Many More Must Die?" USA Today, July 29, 2009). That's about 50 deaths per week. Cell phones now outnumber registered vehicles, 270 million to 254 million. Currently, 21 states and the District of Columbia bar the use of cell phones for "novice" drivers—but it has to be quite a trick for police officers to determine who is a novice and who isn't. David Teater, senior director for transportation initiatives at the National Safety Council, tells his story about the death of his 12-year-old son who was killed by a woman who ran a red light while using a cell phone. "Epidemiological studies show drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to crash. Brain scan studies show that a phone conversation reduces brain activity required for driving by 37%" (ibid.). Drivers plus cell phones can equal a dangerous combination. (Source: USA Today.)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: September - October 2009
Course Content
Jerold Aust
Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978). Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps. Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
