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8.Prior experience with cellular phones has no effect on distraction levels.
9.Risk of collision when using a cell is 4 times higher regardless of age or driving experience of
driver and hands-free units offered no safety advantage.
In these studies by University of Toronto, driver with cell wasn’t necessarily “at fault,” but it still slowed their ability to avoid a collision caused by someone else.
10.In one analysis of fatal accidents involving cell phone use, cell phone-using drivers were all in “striking vehicle.”
That is, they struck something stopped in front of them, or left their lane of traffic and struck a vehicle or object. In these crashes, 75% of drivers were engaged in conversation, 13% were dialing, and 13% were hanging up. Of those engaged in conversation, a third were using mounted phones in hands-free mode. (Source: Fatal Analysis Reporting System [FARS])
In conclusion, driver error contributes to over 90% of collision in first place. Why compound this with cell phone usage? And most counter-intuitive part of this data is that it isn’t punching numbers in that causes trouble, but conversation, and that’s hands-free makes no difference.
If you don’t care about yourself, or other adults, keep in mind extreme number of children who die every year in car crashes.
Cell phones are great for productivity and personal safety. Just make sure you aren’t using yours to call EMS and police after a car accident caused by fact you were using it while driving. When they subpoena those cell phone records, make sure they’re clear!
©Susan Dunn, MA, Emotional Intelligence Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc . Coaching, Internet courses, teleclasses and ebooks for your personal and professional development. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE ezine; put “ezine” for subject line.
