2010 has brought with it many new driving laws regarding cell phone usage. At one time, it seemed that a large number of people casually held the wheel with one hand while pressing their phone to their ear with the other. Many folks were driving and cell phone texting while steering. Many states have chosen to bring an end to this type of distracted driving behavior, due to its dangerous nature.
Studies Show Texting While Driving to be Highly Dangerous
New Hampshire, Oregon, and Illinois are the latest in the list of 19 states to ban texting while driving. In a 2006 naturalistic study done by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the risks of texting while operating a vehicle were shown to be much greater than talking on a cell phone. Researchers studied over 200 drivers in both cars and trucks to see what their level of distraction was while dialing a cell phone, talking and listening on a phone, and text messaging. It was shown that those who text are 23 times more likely to crash or nearly crash than those who are not distracted. Comparatively, those who talk on a cell phone are about 1.3 times as likely to crash.
The reasons why texting and driving is so dangerous may seem obvious to some, but this study puts it in perspective. Study participants' eyes were analyzed while they texted, dialed, and talked while driving to see how long their eyes were off the road. Texting had the longest duration of eyes off the road, with an average of 4 seconds during a 6 second period. The study states that, "This equates to a driver traveling the length of a football field at 55 mph without looking at the roadway." (Box, Sherri, New Data from VTTI Provides Insight into Cell Phone Use and Driving Distraction, July, 2009)
Naturalistic Study Concludes that Driving is Highly Visual Activity
The VTTI driving study was naturalistic, in that the participants were actual drivers on the road, not people using driving simulators. Since these drivers were reacting in real-world situations, the researchers felt that the data was more accurate than that obtained from simulator research. Drivers were studied for over 6 million miles of total driving, therefore producing a wide range of data.
The study points out that although talking on a cell phone while driving does provide a distraction, it is not nearly as dangerous as texting. This is largely due to the fact that the driver's eyes are not off of the road for nearly as long as they are for texting. Some past studies have even suggested that talking on a cell phone is as dangerous as driving drunk. The VTTI study disputes this fact, stating that talking and listening require cognitive attention but allow eyes to remain on the road. Therefore, one major conclusion of the study is that safety can be improved by drivers keeping their eyes on the road.
Hands-Free Sets and Earpieces
Seven states have banned drivers from holding phones altogether. Hands-free devices are required in Oregon, Washington, California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Utah, and New York. However, as the VTTI study points out, simply wearing a cell phone headset does not guarantee lack of distraction while driving. This is because the driver must still reach for the phone, dial, and put on the headset. It is concluded that the safest choice is to use a voice-activated system, which provides for the least amount of time that eyes are off the road.
There are many possible distractions for drivers. Even having a conversation with a passenger can be highly distracting for some. However, none is more deadly than taking one's eyes off the road to text message. Since the VTTI study showed some direct correlations between many crashes and text messages, bans on texting should cut down on driving accidents. To maximize driving safety, drivers must cut down on distractions and keep their eyes on the road.
Sources:
Box, Sherri, New Data from VTTI Provides Insight into Cell Phone Use and Driving Distraction, July 27, 2009
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Cellphone Laws, January 2010
Wendy McDougal - Wendy McDougal is a mother of two girls, ages 10 and 7, a boy, age 3, and a two year-old Australian Shepherd mix. She is a stay-at-home ...
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