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ARC Network - Accident Reconstruction ResearchAccident Reconstruction Network > Research > Cell Phones

Accident reconstruction research


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Research/ Cell Phones

This section focuses on cell phone usage while driving. Please note the articles found in this section were NOT written by the ARC Network (unless specifically stated). The ARC Network researches various subjects and builds research repository of our findings. This way you can interpret and use the information as you see fit.

The ARC Network understands that cell phones are only one aspect of a much bigger topic - driver distractions. However, this section only deals with cell phones.

Please email all feedback to the ARC Network.


NHTSA Driver Distraction Expert Working Group Meetings

Driving with Cell Phones: What Have Highway Safety Researchers Learned?

Capturing Variables Indicating Driver Distraction In Large Electronic Files

The LA Times reports that the CA Highway Patrol attributes 4699 crashes, 2786 injuries, and 31 deaths for nine months of 2001. They estimate the actual total may be well over 6,000 for the entire year. Los Angeles Times, Nov.10, 2002.
Note: This article has been archived and only available for a price, but here here is an article based on the original.

The Harvard University Center for Risk Analysis estimates per year, 1.5 million crashes, 560,000 injuries, and 2600 deaths due to phone use in moving vehicles. published in Dec, 2002

The University of Kansas has found that other activities in the car are not as distracting as carrying on a phone conversation.

The University of Rhode Island concludes that phone conversations cause what they term "tunnel vision" in drivers. Professor Manbir Sodhi states that "holding the phones isn't the main issue. Thinking is."

Cell Phones and Highway Safety:  2006 State Legislative Update

Cell Phones and Highway Safety: 2005 State Legislative Update

Cell Phones and Highway Safety: 2001 State Legislative Update

Cell Phones and Driving: 1999 Legislative Update

The Role of Driver Distraction in Traffic Crashes
This peer-reviewed report documents the relative reported frequency of serious crashes caused by various forms of driver distraction. It should be of interest to legislators, licensing agencies, law enforcement, and traffic safety organizations. It will be available shortly in published paper format and as an electronic file on the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's web site. Funding for this study was provided by voluntary contributions from the American Automobile Association and its affiliated motor clubs; from individual AAA members; and from AAA club-affiliated insurance companies. - PDF Download Phase 1 Final Report PDF Download Phase 2 Final Report
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

The Effect of Cellular Phone Use Upon Driver Attention (1991 Study)
Research has shown that use of cellular phones does not interfere significantly with the ability to control an automobile except among the elderly, where potentially dangerous lane excursions can occur. However, the effect of cellular phones as a possible distraction has not been investigated.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety - 1991

The Influence of the Use of Mobile Phones on Driver Situation Awareness
The driving performance of 15 subjects in a simulated road environment has been studied both with and without a hands-free telephone conversation. The performance indicators used were choice reaction time, braking profile, lateral position, speed, and situation awareness. PDF Download
NHTSA

Individual Differences and In-Vehicle Distraction While Driving: A Test Track Study and Psychometric Evaluation
The influence of individual differences on driver distraction was examined in this study. Sixteen (16) test participants were trained on destination entry procedures with four commercially available route guidance systems, as well as the dialing task on a commercially available wireless cellular telephone and on manually tuning an after-market car radio. - PDF Download
NHTSA

Association Between Cellular-Telephone Calls and Motor Vehicle Collisions - PDF
An epidemiologic method was used to study whether using a cellular telephone while driving increases the risk of a motor vehicle collision. We studied 699 drivers who had cellular telephones and who were involved in motor vehicle collisions resulting in substantial property damage but no personal injury. Each person’s cellular-telephone calls on the day of the collision and during the previous week were analyzed through the use of detailed billing records. A total of 26,798 cellular-telephone calls were made during the 14-month study period.
New england Journal of Medicine - 1997

Driver Workload Assessment of Route Guidance System Destination Entry While Driving: A Test Track Study - PDF
This study examined destination entry while driving with four commercially available route guidance systems. Three of the systems involved various visual-manual demands while the fourth involved voice input and output. Cellular phone dialing and radio tuning were included as comparison tasks.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA

Web Site Links

WebMD: Cell Phone Use While Driving Increases Crash Risk

Drivers.com: Cell phones may increase crash risk 38%

ABCNews.com: Search News articles on cell phone use while driving

GeoCities: An Education on Common Objections to Cell Phone Legislation

Seattle P-I.com: Despite danger, 90 percent talk on cell phones

NYS Department of Motor Vehicles Governor's Traffic Safety Committee: Car Cell Phones on the Road