CellPhones

Slide1: 

Cell Phones and Driving

Slide2: 

Study by Jane Stutts, Ph.D. University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center May 2001

Cell Phones and Driving: 

Cell Phones and Driving Why Don’t We All Keep Our Eyes on the Road and Our Minds on Driving?

All Too Typical: 

All Too Typical

Driver Distraction: 

Driver Distraction Research suggests 25% of crashes are distraction-related Social and economic costs for these crashes approach an estimated $40 billion annually

Why All the Attention Now?: 

Why All the Attention Now? Explosion in cell phone use New technologies (navigation systems, traveler information systems, etc.) Greater complexity of “old” technologies (radios, sound systems, vehicle displays, etc) People spending more time in cars Hot media topic Fear of new technology

New Issue or Old?: 

New Issue or Old? 1983 1913 1996 2000 1954 1930 Windshield Wipers Radios Drive-Up Windows Mobile Phones Telematics Devices Email, Internet, etc.

How Do Distractions Affect Driving Ability?: 

How Do Distractions Affect Driving Ability? Drivers react more slowly Drivers often fail to recognize potential hazards Drivers reduce their “margin of safety”

Types of Distraction: 

Types of Distraction Visual Auditory Physical Cognitive

National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System Data: 

National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System Data Annual probability sample of 5,000 police-reported crashes Based on passenger vehicles towed from the scene or with airbag deployed Professional crash investigators examine vehicles, drivers, witnesses

Project Tasks: 

Project Tasks Analysis of 1995-1999 CDS crash data Analysis of narrative data from the CDS and North Carolina crash reports.

Distracted Driver Crashes: 

Distracted Driver Crashes Outside object, person, event Adjusting radio, cassette, CD Other occupant in vehicle Moving object in vehicle Using other device or object Vehicle / climate controls Eating / drinking Using/dialing cell phone Smoking related Other Unknown distraction 29.4% (602 cases) 11.4 10.9 4.3 2.9 2.8 1.7 1.5 (42 cases) 0.9 25.6 8.6

PA Study results were similar to Foundation Study: 

PA Study results were similar to Foundation Study Top 3 sources of driver distraction in identical order Cell phone use in 8th place in AAA Foundation study and tied for 6th place in the PA study

Slide15: 

Talking on the phone while driving is dangerous, but is a ban on hand-held phones the answer?

Congressional Activity: 

Congressional Activity

Slide17: 

Source: MultiState Associates Existing Laws (enacted as of May 2002) Teen driver ban on cell phones law (1) Study/data collection laws (3) Comprehensive distracted driving law (1) Hand-held cell phone banning law (1) School bus driver ban on cell phones (1) State Preemption (3) State Preemption and study law (1)

Slide18: 

Legislative Activity (pending legislation as of May 2002) Total cell phone banning legislation pending (2) Both hand-held and total cell phone banning legislation pending (3) Both hand-held banning and comprehensive distracted driving legislation pending (2) Hand-held cell phone banning legislation pending (6) Source: MultiState Associates

Common Observations: 

Common Observations Many sources of driver distraction (new & old) Difficulty collecting good data Potential under-reporting of cell phones Need for further research Laboratory, crash, and observation studies Hands-free vs. Hand-held Increased public education (novice drivers) Role of legislation still being debated

Stay Focused - Keep Your Mind on the Road: 

Stay Focused - Keep Your Mind on the Road

Slide21: 

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) public charity located in Washington, DC that is dedicated to research and education about the causes of traffic crashes. It is supported by by donations from AAA/CAA Clubs, AAA/CAA members, and other organizations associated with the American Automobile Association/Canadian Automobile Association.