Smartphone related accidents have soared in recent years – the NDSI places a specific emphasis on this issue!
Despite the fact that drivers are perpetually reminded about the perils of using cell phones while driving, many studies have found that the number of fatal car crashes in the last two decades has increased significantly. The annual injury and fatality report of the National Safety Council found that 26% of car accidents are caused by distracted driving. The report presented a survey, comparing the data of injuries and deaths that occurred in 2014 and 2015.
The results suggest that a majority of the car accidents happened because the drivers were involved in texting, talking or dialing. The NSC report highlighted that drivers who frequently use cell phones for texting while operating their vehicles typically do not use voice to text technology, which is supported by all major cell service providers and texting applications. This failure to utilize simple technology that is already available and ready to use represents a clear indication that most drivers simply do not recognize the risks they are taking when texting while driving. They also clearly are not dissuaded by the fact that in most states texting while driving is illegal.
The report estimated that smartphone use caused about 1.2 million crashes and accidents in 2013. Texting, on the other hand, led to 341,000 injuries in the same year. These statistics do not mean that smartphone technology has only negative impacts on our lives but they do indicate that smart phone use while driving is an extremely high risk activity and that most drivers simply do not recognize this risk.
Everywhere... All the Time... Addiction?
The influence the latest technology has on our lives clearly impacts accidents rates, which is reflected in the aforementioned road collision statistics. That means car crashes due to driver distractions have escalated as smartphone technology has become common and available in motorized vehicles. Throw in issues associated with “screen addiction” and social media infatuation and a scenario results where many drivers seem incapable or unwilling to set aside such distractions while driving.
Road Safety Authority RSA published a road safety report in 2010, which evaluated the effects of using mobile phones while driving. Analyzing in a broader spectrum, the report stated that smartphone technology has increased the collision risk four times. Ever wondered why your automobile insurance rates have soared in recent years? Now you know!
Also, it negatively affects driving performance of people as it causes distraction. Drivers have to shift their attention and take eyes, hands and mind off the road to use their smartphones. This cognitive distraction appears to cause a huge impact on driving behavior and often leads to an accident.
Risks of Using Your Mobile Phone While Driving
Distracted driving is a significant issue when it comes to transport safety. The interaction with smartphones while operating a vehicle can engage an array of physical and cognitive resources which often results in poor driving performance. Following are the risks of using mobile phones while driving:
Driving and Talking
Using a mobile phone when you are driving significantly reduces situational awareness that is critical to safe driving. When you speak on the mobile phone, you are by definition distracted, diverting your attention from the road. You handle your vehicle with one hand and perhaps less than one eye and that limits your maneuverability and may cause a car collision.
Driving and Texting
According to Virginia Tech Transport Institute, opening and reading a text message requires an individual to take their eyes and focus off of the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. The Centers for Disease Control reports an average time interval required to check a text message of 5 seconds. At a speed of 60mph, this means you will travel over 440 feet without focus on the driving task just by checking a text message. Clearly, visual distraction creates an increased risk of crash and potential injury or death.
Insanity...
Smartphone Market Adoption Rates vs. Increased Traffic Accident Frequency
There is no doubt that these digital devices, particularly smartphones, have enhanced business communication, as well personal convenience. Their popularity has resulted in massive market penetration and today the overwhelming majority of drivers have a smart phone at hand. These devices have clearly raised concerns when it comes to road safety and distracted driving. The tradeoff between increased connectivity and communications for increased risk of traffic accident is unbalanced. A basic risk / reward analysis clearly indicates that while driving the benefits of smart phone use do not justify the increased risk
Many studies have suggested that the proportion of people using smartphones while driving has not only expanded exponentially, but has also increased traffic accident frequency by 11% in the last decade. The latest statistics found that 67.3 % of the U.S population use smartphones while driving and this is associated with dramatically increasing traffic fatality rates. The more people who purchase and use a smart phone – the more people die in traffic accidents.
Texting and driving, as mentioned earlier, is another hazardous habit that causes car crashes. Young drivers are avid users of smartphones and make up the 27 % of drivers who are responsible for fatal crashes.
Risk Mitigation - What Should You Do
Here are some tips to mitigate the risks of distracted driving and to help you drive safely:
• Do not use your cell phone while behind the wheel operating a vehicle. Period.
• Make turning your smart phone OFF part of your safety routine when preparing to drive.
• In the event of an emergency, pull over and safely park before using your smart phone.
• Set up your phone such that when driving anyone to sends you a text message will receive an automated reply telling them you are currently driving and you will respond when parked.
• Make turning your smart phone OFF part of your safety routine when preparing to drive.
• In the event of an emergency, pull over and safely park before using your smart phone.
• Set up your phone such that when driving anyone to sends you a text message will receive an automated reply telling them you are currently driving and you will respond when parked.
Sources
- https://www.dmv.org/distracted-driving/texting-and-driving.php
- https://www.personalinjurysandiego.org/topics/facts-about-texting-driving/
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/201183/forecast-of-smartphone-penetration-in-the-us/
- https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/road_traffic/distracted_driving_en.pdf
- https://itstillworks.com/dangers-using-cell-phones-driving-1253.html
- http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Campaigns/Mobile%20Phone/RSA_Research_Mobile_Phones.pdf
- https://www.personalinjurysandiego.org/topics/facts-about-texting-driving/
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/201183/forecast-of-smartphone-penetration-in-the-us/
- https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/road_traffic/distracted_driving_en.pdf
- https://itstillworks.com/dangers-using-cell-phones-driving-1253.html
- http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Campaigns/Mobile%20Phone/RSA_Research_Mobile_Phones.pdf
