New data from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute provides insight into cell phone use and driving distraction
Risk Estimates
A snapshot of risk estimates from these studies includes the following:
For light vehicles or cars
* Dialing a cell phone made the risk of crash or near-crash event 2.8 times as high as non-distracted driving;
* Talking or listening to a cell phone made the risk of crash or near-crash event 1.3 times as high as non-distracted driving; and
* Reaching for an object such as an electronic device made the risk of crash or near-crash event 1.4 times as high as non-distracted driving.
For heavy vehicles or trucks
* Dialing a cell phone made the risk of crash or near-crash event 5.9 times as high as non-distracted driving;
* Talking or listening to a cell phone made the risk of crash or near-crash event 1.0 times as high as non-distracted driving;
* Use of, or reach for, an electronic device made the risk of crash or near-crash event 6.7 times as high as non-distracted driving; and
* Text messaging made the risk of crash or near-crash event 23.2 times as high as non-distracted driving.
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<a href="http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2009/07/2009-571.html">http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2009/07/2009-571.html</a>
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