How dangerous are cell phones when driving?
Wheeler during yesterday’s city council meeting. On Wednesday, Mayor Ted Wheeler took part in a city council meeting and spoke into his cell phone while driving. That behavior is not only dangerous but it sets a very bad example for a city that is reeling from record traffic deaths.
Do cell phones make driving more dangerous?
Cell phone users are about 5.36 times more likely to get in an accident than undistracted drivers. Other studies have shown the risk is about the same as for drivers with a 0.08 blood-alcohol level. The researchers are not trivializing drunken driving. They oppose both driving while intoxicated or while using a cell phone.
Is cell phone use the most dangerous distraction?
Cell phone use is the most dangerous distraction because it involves all three different types of distraction and plays a part in the increasing issue of distracted driving. Even…show more content…. “The reaction time of a distracted cell phone driver is more than 40% than those of an undistracted driver” (Hague).
Why are cell phones banned while driving?
Using a Mobile Phone While Driving Should Be Banned
- All the Yes points: Using a mobile phone while driving is very dangerous. ...
- All the No points:
- Using a mobile phone while driving is very dangerous. ...
- Research shows very little difference between using a handheld and a hands-free mobile phone, in ter…
- Existing laws are inadequate; driving without due care and attention is a limited charge that can be…
Why are cell phones a distraction while driving?
Crash risk is two- to six-times greater for those who use a cellphone while driving compared to drivers who are not distracted. Using a phone slows reaction time, increases lane deviations, and causes drivers to look away from the road for extended periods.
Does talking on mobile phones while driving distract people?
The NHTSA considers distracted driving to include some of the following as distractions: other occupants in the car, eating, drinking, smoking, adjusting radio, adjusting environmental control, reaching for object in car, and cell phone use.
What are the top 5 distractions for drivers?
EYES ON THE ROAD: The top five driver distractionsMobile phones (talking and texting)Adjusting vehicle settings.Passengers.Eating, drinking and smoking.External distractions.
What are three things that can distract a driver?
Manual Distractions Even though many drivers feel they can drive with just one hand on the wheel, this is a dangerous situation. Manual distractions can include reaching for an item, texting, grabbing for something in the backseat, eating, or drinking.
What age group has the most distracted drivers?
„∎ The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving.
How do cell phones distract people?
Key Concept. Cell phones are distracting, pulling our attention away from our current tasks and activities. New research reveals that the mere presence of the phones, even when they are turned off and we are consciously focusing our attention on another task, is enough to reduce our thinking capacity.
What is the number 1 cause of distracted driving?
People who use their cell phones to talk or text while driving are by far the most common reason for distracted driving accidents. In fact, the National Safety Council estimates that 26% of all car crashes involve cell phones.
What is the most common driver distraction?
The most common types of driving distractionGenerally distracted or "lost in thought" ... Smartphone use. ... Other occupants. ... Outside person, object or event. ... Eating or drinking. ... Adjusting navigation, audio or climate controls. ... Adjusting other vehicle devices and controls. ... Moving objects.More items...•
What is the greatest danger involved in using a mobile phone while driving?
Using a cell phone while driving, whether hands-free or not, makes it four times more likely you will have a collision. When you send or read a text message, it takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. Going 55 miles per hour while texting is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed!
What are the 10 top distractions that distract drivers?
Learn more about the top 10 driving distractions and what you can do to avoid them.Texting While Driving. ... Using the GPS. ... Talking to Passengers. ... Dealing With Children or Pets. ... Adjusting Audio or Climate Controls. ... Eating and Drinking. ... Daydreaming. ... Applying Makeup/Grooming.More items...•
How do passengers distract drivers?
Driving numerous passengers, especially if they're teenagers, can create a chaotic environment in the car, which makes safe driving impossible. Passengers playing loud music, singing, fighting, or laughing create major distractions for the driver.
Does a cellphone conversation affect reaction time?
When involved in a hands-free cell phone conversation, reaction time increases as well, but not as long of a difference as a hands-on conversation. The results proved that it is in fact more dangerous to be involved in any type of cell phone conversation while driving, then when completely focused on the road.
Is it okay to call while driving?
Even if a driver is stuck in traffic, as long as he is behind the wheel, he is still not allowed to hold and use his cellphone and/or gadget to make or receive calls; write, send or read text-based communications; play games; watch movies; perform calculations; read e-books; compose messages; surf or browse the ...
How Much Can talking on the cell phone increase your chances of being in a crash?
According to the same study, drivers who are talking on the phone, even on a hands-free device, are up to four times more likely to be involved in a crash. A newly-released study from AAA claimed cell phone use increases the risk for a traffic accident up to eight times.
What states is it illegal to talk on the phone while driving?
However, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia (plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin ...
Why were the participants sent home after a test drive?
After a test drive, five participants were sent home because they experienced nausea. (The simulation gives the impression that the car is moving even though it's staying put, a discrepancy that can lead to motion sickness.)
Which cortex does the iPhone demand attention to?
The researchers found that the more attention the iPhone demanded, the more blood headed to the participants' prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex. (The data was from 17 participants because four of the simulated drives had technical problems.)
What car did the researchers sit behind the wheel of?
For the study, the researchers seated participants behind the wheel of a parked Toyota Avalon equipped with technology that simulated a drive, including images of what they would see through the windows as well as the rear-view and side mirrors.
What is the method used to record brain activity?
But they used an innovative method to record brain activity, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, which was able to demonstrate what happens in the brain.
Who is the Stanford doctor who squeezed the hand brake with his only available hand?
But now, Stanford Medicine researchers have brain imagery and driving metrics to show how. Years ago, as psychiatrist Allan Reiss, MD, was bicycling on campus, his cellphone rang. He answered it and kept cycling, then a car in front of him stopped. "I squeezed the hand brake with my only available hand, which was my left hand," he said.
Is it dangerous to use a cellphone?
Although the researchers anticipated the findings, Reiss said, "It was really quite exciting to see the results" as the brain imaging confirms that cellphones are, indeed, a dangerous distraction.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.
How many people died from distracted driving in 2019?
Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 3,142 lives in 2019. NHTSA leads the national effort to save lives by preventing this dangerous behavior. Get the facts, get involved, and help us keep America’s roads safe.
What is the NHTSA's focus on distracted driving?
The foundation of NHTSA’s efforts on distracted driving and other risky driving behaviors is our partnership with the states and local police. The states determine laws affecting distracted driving, but NHTSA provides federal investments in the locally driven strategies that address the states’ specific needs.
Can you drive at 55 mph?
At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing. The Issue.
How to reduce distractions for the driver?
Reduce distractions for the driver by assisting with navigation or other tasks.
What is distracted driving?
Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distracted driving can increase the chance of a motor vehicle crash.
What are some laws that prevent distracted driving?
These include banning texting while driving, implementing hands-free laws, and limiting the number of young passengers who can ride with teen drivers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tracks cellphone use laws. external icon.
What grades do you get for texting while driving?
Texting or emailing while driving was as common among students whose grades were mostly As or Bs as among students with mostly Cs, Ds, or Fs. 5
How many people died in distracted driving in 2018?
In the U.S. in 2018, over 2,800 people were killed and an estimated 400,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. 1. About 1 in 5 of the people who died in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2018 were not in vehicles―they were walking, riding their bikes, or otherwise outside a vehicle. 1.
When was texting banned in commercial vehicles?
banned commercial vehicle drivers from texting while driving. In 2011, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. external icon. banned all hand-held cell phone use by commercial drivers and drivers carrying hazardous materials. NHTSA has several campaigns.
Can you multitask while driving?
Do not multitask while driving. Whether it’s adjusting your mirrors, picking the music, eating a sandwich, making a phone call, or reading an email―do it before or after your trip, not during.
