Collision and Violation Involvement of Drivers Who Use Cellular Telephones

Abstract

The study sample consisted of 3,869 drivers, split approximately 50/50 between observed cell phone users and those observed not using cell phones (labeled "nonusers"). Cell phone use was determined by a snapshot observation made on city streets. The sample represented 54% of those originally observed, for whom a match was obtained for both vehicle license plate and for gender and estimated age group of the observed driver and that of the driver named in the vehicle policy. Data were obtained from records of insurance claims, police-reported collisions and violations, following a strict protocol to protect individual privacy. The dependent measures were at-fault crash claims and "inattention" violations. A logistic regression model controlled for age, gender, exposure (represented by not-at-fault crash claims), alcohol-related offenses, and aggressive driving offenses. The study also involved a comparison of the contributing factors and collision configurations of police-reported collisions involving the users and "nonusers" in the sample. Drivers observed using cell phones had a higher risk of an at-fault crash than did the "nonusers," although the difference was not significant for males. There was no apparent effect on "inattention" violations. The cell phone users also had a higher proportion of rear-end collisions. The violation pattern of cell phone users suggests that they are, in general, riskier drivers. These differences likely reflect lifestyle, attitude and personality factors. It is essential to control for these factors in assessing the direct risk attributable to cellular telephone use.

Mobile phone use while driving: Underestimation of a global threat

“…The quality of the data captured is sometimes measured by its completeness and ability to provide contextual information on risk factors underlying each investigated crash (Loo and Tsu, 2007). However, evidence suggests that police reports do not provide reliable information to assess the risk factors surrounding a collision (Ma et al, 2012;Wilson, Fang and Wiggins, 2003), particularly on the involvement of mobile phones (WHO, 2011). This makes it difficult to assess whether a causal relationship exists between mobile phone use and crash involvement.…”

Shut up I'm Driving! Is Talking to an Inconsiderate Passenger the Same as Talking on a Mobile Telephone?

“…For example, a high proportion of rear-end collisions are associated with mobile phone use during a drive (Wilson, et al, 2003). Experimental studies on mobile phone use and driving have shown increased reaction time to events, sometimes leading to a total failure to notice important driving-related information (e.g., Hancock, Lesch & Simmons, 2002;McKnight & McKnight, 1993;Strayer & Johnston, 2001).…”

The analysis of drivers’ reaction time using cell phone In the case of vehicle stabilization task

“…It has been estimated that mobile phones are used in 0.86% of the accidents which is 72% more than the expected rate, estimated by the "induced exposure" method. In addition, Sagberg [56] found that the rear-end collision was the most common type of accidents, caused when speaking on a phone, and Wilson et al [51] showed that mobile phone users had a greater rate of rear-end collisions. The style of traffic offenses of mobile phone users suggests that they are generally more risky drivers.…”

“…These differences reflect lifestyles, attitudes and personality factors. It is important to consider these factors in assessing the direct risk attributed to the use of mobile phones [51].…”

“…Many experimental studies have shown deterioration in driving performance during telephone calls but a lot less of epidemiological studies have been carried out in an attempt to assess whether the use of a phone while driving increases the risk of getting involved in a traffic accident. Researchers used 4 methodological approaches: -The retrospective cohort study to compare 2 populations of drivers, one of them using a mobile phone, and the second -not using, and examining whether the use of the phone increases the risk of involvement in a collision [49][50][51]. -The second method compared the driver population (cases) involved in accidents, with the reference driver population (cases) not involved in accidents, and assessed whether the number of mobile phone users among the fatalities is higher [52].…”