How Dangerous is Texting and Driving?
It has been well documented that , especially connected to use, is a major cause of crashes both among teenagers and adults. In literature assessing the effect of usage on , the risk of an increases when dialing a . This may potentially be explained by delayed braking interaction. In comparison, drivers under the influence of alcohol exhibit a more aggressive style. These findings suggest that impairments associated with use while can be as profound as those associated with while drunk ().
The New England Journal of Medicine has published the findings of two studies on the effects of on accidents, one examining the effects of on teenagers and another examining the effects of on adults [1] . To measure the effect of performing secondary tasks on , a sample of 42 newly licensed drivers (16.3 to 17.0 years of age) and 109 adults (age 18-72) with more experience were used. In both studies, data-recording devices, including four cameras, and a number of sensors including a GPS, a forward radar, a multi-axis accelerometer, and a machine-vision lane tracker were installed in participants’ cars to assess their behaviors while and during a , , or near-. Video and performance data were collected continuously. These devices were used to track the , the number of crashes, and near-crashes where the subjects were at fault.
In the first study among teenage drivers, 167 , crashes, and near-crashes were identified. Among the experienced drivers, 518 crashes and near-crashes among experienced drivers were identified. The risk of a or near- among increased significantly if they were dialing a , reaching for a , , or eating. Experienced drivers also showed an increased risk for .
The effects of while using a are strong enough to compare to the effects of drunk [2] . In a study performed at the University of Utah, 40 adults aged 22-34 (25 men, 15 women) were recruited via advertisements in local newspapers. These participants would use a simulator designed to imitate in daytime conditions with good visibility and dry pavement, with stop-and-go traffic.
Three separate sessions were held: one to familiarize participants with the , one to measure their behavior under the influence of alcohol, and one while conversing on a . While conversing on a , participants were more likely to be involved in rear-end collisions, and their initial reaction to vehicles braking in front of them was slowed down by 9 percent. Compared with baseline, those talking on a took 19 percent longer to recover speed lost during braking. When participants were intoxicated, drivers exhibited a more aggressive style, braking with 23% more force and following closer to the vehicles in front of them. Although these findings are different reactions to different stimuli, they suggest that the effects of while are just as severe as under the influence.
Text Messaging on Driver Performance
The Transport Research Laboratory has measured the effect of on performance on a ( or ) aged 17-25 [3] . Seventeen participants (8 male, 9 female) were used. The participants used a simulator in which the participant was required to follow a lead at a safe distance. In one drive, participants were required to complete tasks following verbal instructions (read a message; compose and send a to a contact; ignore an incoming message), and in another, they performed the same simulation without any distractions.
performance was measured through reaction times, following ability, lane control, and speed. Writing text messages created a significantly greater impairment than reading text messages. The slowest average reaction time for drivers who were increased from 1.2 to 1.6 seconds. In addition, drivers tended to reduce their speed while , suggesting an awareness that the drivers were impaired while . The impairment caused by was also more significant in female drivers rather than male drivers. Reading text messages was less detrimental, but was detrimental, nevertheless. Ignored text messages appeared to have a negligible effect on performance.
These findings were compared to prior studies measuring the influence of cannabis and alcohol on [4] . Reaction time impairment caused by while was apparently greater than that caused by alcohol consumption to the legal limit for () but less detrimental than using a mobile for handheld conversations. Drivers who texted () also drove at lower speeds, but not as slowly as those under the influence of cannabis.
Texting Kills
Although the research is clear, continues to be a pervasive problem and approximately 9 people and injures over 1,000 more each day. and are not enough to stop a . If you or a loved one have been in a or have been injured by a , it is important to consult with an as soon as possible. accidents are complicated matters, and you need an experienced to fight for your rights. For a free consultation, call Group today at (602) 262-4254.
[1] Sheila G. Klauer; Feng Guo; Bruce G. Simons-Morton; Marie Claude Ouimet, Suzanne E. Lee, Thomas A. Dingus, Distracted Driving and Risk of Road Crashes among Novice and Experienced Drivers, https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmsa1204142
[2] David L. Strayer, Frank A. Drews, Dennis J. Crouch, A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. (2006). https://www.csus.edu/indiv/m/merlinos/pdf/human%20factors_%20the%20journal%20of%20the%20human%20factors%20and%20ergonomics%20society-2006-strayer-381-91.pdf
[3] https://www.racfoundation.org/assets/rac_foundation/content/downloadables/texting%20whilst%20driving%20-%20trl%20-%20180908%20-%20report.pdf
[4] See, e.g., B.F. Sexton, R.j. Tunbridge, and A Board (TRL Limited), P.G. Jackson, K. Wright, M.M. Stark, K. Englehart, The influence of cannabis and alcohol on driving https://trl.co.uk/sites/default/files/TRL543.pdf
