The issue of distracted driving is a complicated topic with various studies indicated real risks, though conflicting conclusions. No one can dispute the fact that cell phone use-- either talking or texting--is dangerous. But there isn’t any clear evidence that bans are working and drivers are still phoning and texting even at the riskiest times.
A recent survey by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) of 1,219 drivers over 18 years old in the last two months of 2009 found that 40 percent of drivers report talking on phones at least a few times a week, 19 percent talk daily, and 35 percent say they never use the phone while driving.
On average drivers spend four minutes out of each hour they spend in the car on the phone, which comes to about 7 percent of the time. This is lower than the federal government’s estimate of 11 percent. However, IIHS researchers note that in self reporting of negative behaviors, drivers will tend to underestimate. Another disparity is that the government data was compiled from observing drivers at intersections during daytime hours, and the IIHS study estimates phone use in all driving scenarios and times.
Another interesting finding is that drivers tend to obey handheld phone bans, but not texting bans. Forty-four percent of drivers in states with bans say they do not talk and drive compared to 30 percent in states without those laws. Thirty-four percent of drivers in states with hand-held bans continue to use them compared to 57 percent in states without the ban.
Thirteen percent of drivers report texting while driving, with the highest rate being among 18-24-year-old motorists at 45 percent in states with bans and 48 percent in states without bans. Overall, 12 percent report texting in states with bans compared to 14 percent in states with no ban.
The study also noted that in stop-and-go traffic, where fender-benders frequently occur, drivers will continue to use phones. Forty-two percent of drivers said they used phones in this risky situation compared to 45 percent who use them in free-flowing traffic.
Currently, seven states plus the District of Columbia have handheld cell phone bans and 20 states and DC ban texting while driving. The survey found that many drivers didn’t know the laws in their state, especially texting bans, and didn’t think the law was strongly enforced by police.
While it is clear that there is a behavior change in states with handheld laws compared with those states that do not have cell phone laws, one expected result would be for crashes to decline, but that is not the case. (See “Are hand-held cell phone laws reducing crash risks”)
All this data leads to the fact that bans alone are not effectively solving the problem. As discussed in the Department of Transportation distracted driving summit last fall, a mix of education and awareness coupled with stronger enforcement and technology could help reduce this risky practice. The safest way to reduce the risk is to not use a cell phone in the car--hand-held or hands-free -- and don’t text. If you need to use your phone, pull over to a safe place.
It may not be convenient, but all the studies agree that this is safest for you, your passengers, and other motorists.
Also read:
Hands-free cell phone laws: Are they effective?
Should cell phone use by drivers be illegal?
Distracted Driving Summit: The hands-free debate
Cell phone use and driving laws
Government
study exposes cell phone driving dangers
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