distracted driving is a dangerous threat to road safety across the world. while drunk driving rates have been on the decline since 1983, distracted driving has been increasing in recent years. many feel this incline is due to the widespread prevalence of cell phones. while distracted driving can be attributed to anything that diverts attention away from the road, it is often the cell phone that receives the blame for distracted driving incidents. most of the recent studies have shown that cell phone usage while driving has striking similarities to the effects of drinking while driving; cell phones tend to take the driver's attention away from the road and onto itself. with drunk driving, drivers often experience the "looking but not seeing" phenomena. while their eyes do indeed view objects on the road, their brains do not comprehend the meaning behind the image. all levels of distraction while driving are dangerous, and potential drivers are cautioned to keep awareness of their surroundings.