Unrecognized Risk of Cell Phone Usage

I've learned research is showing that using a cell phone while driving is a greater distraction than drivers perceive. According to the National Safety Council, cell phone use while driving contributes to 6 percent of vehicular crashes, or 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries, and 2,600 deaths each year.

“Our nation has reached a point where we estimate more than 100 million people are engaging in this dangerous behavior daily,” NSC President and CEO Janet Froetscher said, adding that the issue is not the type of phone a driver uses, rather it is the distraction caused by the conversation. “Hands-free devices do not make cell phones any safer. Several studies indicate that the principle risk is the cognitive distraction. Studies also show that driving while talking on a cell phone is extremely dangerous and puts drivers at a four-times greater crash risk.”