Quote:
Originally Posted by bhunter
Do I think it rises to a level that it needs a federal law? No, however, texting, or any distraction, may contribute to the possibility of an accident. I see a sliding slope that can be continually expanded. Mobile phone use is just an easy target. Are more or less people getting in accidents today because of phone use? Anecdotal evidence is notoriously unreliable.
Here are the actual numbers from 1990-2009:
Motor vehicle accidents by year in millions:
1990 11.5
1995 10.7
2000 13.4
2004 10.9
2005 10.7
2006 10.4
2007 10.6
2008 10.2
2009 10.8
Cell phone market penetration has increased considerably over that time period; thus we'd expect a correlation between that increased use and an increase in accidents. That hasn't occurred. Accidents have remained stable despite both an overall population increase and increased cell phone use. Obviously, there could be a better correlation across specific age groups, but nevertheless, the issue isn't as large as politicians. LEO, the press, and regulatory agencies assert.
BTW, even deaths have decreased over the same time span.
http://www.census.gov/compendia/stat...atalities.html
Here's one study dated but interesting:
"The effect of cellular phone use upon response to highway-traffic situations was the most deleterious for the older age group (i.e., 50-80). Overall, the increase in likelihood that some highway-traffic situation will go unnoticed while calling or conversing on a cellular phone was (for the older group) about twice that of their younger counterparts. Older subjects were no more distracted by radio tuning than the middle-age group (26-49 years) and considerably less than the youngest group (17-25 years). As far as time to respond is concerned, age only effected the placing of cellular phone calls."
Perhaps, those over fifty ought not use cell phones while driving.
http://www.aaafoundation.org/resourc...n=cellphone#a1
Imagine all the revenue that could be generated by ticketing drivers using cell phones. BTW, here in The People's California it is illegal to use a cell phone without using a hands free device. IIRC it is a $256.00 fine. |
If I'm reading the data correctly, approximately one third of traffic fatalities are related to speeding. There is no question that it is legitimate to regulate driving speed, is there?
It looks like 16% of the fatalities are related to distraction, and 20% of all accidents. While not a third, those are nevertheless significant numbers.
I'm not sure that the AAA study has any relevance to current conditions. As I recall, texting was not an option in 1991.
It sounds like you even oppose California's requirement that all cell phone usage be hands free. That is, however, a state regulation is it not?
By the way, the NTSB standards were
recommended standards for states, not a federally imposed standard. In other words, an agency whose mission in to promote transportation safety has done its research and as a result has
recommended to states standards that would reduce a major contribution to accidents.
Finally, albeit anecdotal, my driving experience involves a fair sized sample, as I commute around a 30 mile round trip daily. Without fail, every time I see erratic driving - particularly a vehicle slowing down to well below the speed of other traffic - I will see a driver engaged in a cell phone conversation. More than once, I have had to take evasive action to avoid a collision with a cell-phone-engaged driver.
Regards,
D-Ray