Adult Driver Cell Phone, Texting, and Car Accident Information
Talking on a cell phone causes nearly 25% of car accidents.
One-fifth of experienced adult drivers in the United States send text messages while driving.
A study of dangerous driver behavior released in January 2007 by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. found that of 1,200 surveyed drivers, 73 percent talk on cell phones while driving.
In 2005, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that ten percent of drivers are on handheld or hands free cell phones at any given hour of the day.
A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Motorists found that motorists who use cell phones while driving are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.
In 2002, the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis calculated that 2,600 people die each year as a result of using cellphones while driving. They estimated that another 330,000 are injured.
According to the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, drivers talking on cell phones are 18 percent slower to react to brake lights. They also take 17 percent longer to regain the speed they lost when they braked.
An estimated 44 percent of American drivers now have cell phones in their automobiles.
Of cell phone users that were surveyed, 85 percent said they use their phones occasionally when driving, 30 percent use their phones while driving on the highway, and 27 percent use them during half or more of the trips they take.
84 percent of cell phone users stated that they believe using a cell phone while driving increases the risk of being in an accident.
The majority of Americans believe that talking on the phone and texting are two of the the most dangerous behaviors that occur behind the wheel. Still, as many as 81% of drivers admit to making phone calls while driving.
The number of crashes and near-crashes linked to dialing is nearly identical to the number associated with talking or listening. Dialing is more dangerous but occurs less often than talking or listening.
Studies have found that texting while driving causes a 400 percent increase in time spent with eyes off the road.
Do you text? What are you going to do? How do we monitor our kids?
source: www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cell/statistics
Some statistics taken from
“State lawmakers try to curb driver distractions.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 2007.
“Teen texting is OTT, even at wheel.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 2007.
“Driving, Texting Just Don’t Mix Well.” The Pittsburgh Channel. May 2007.
“Bill would require motorists to unhand their phones.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 2006.
“PennDOT Teen Driver Safety Week News Release.” Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. October 22, 2008.
“Cellphones and Driving.” Insurance Information Institute. October 2008.
“AMA acts against trans fats, texting while driving.” Washington Post. November 10, 2008.