Driving and telephoning: Relative accident risk when using hand-held and hands-free mobile phones

Experimental research shows that using mobile phones while driving leads to impaired driving, and it has been suggested that this driving impairment to a large extent is a result of cognitive, rather than physical, distractions. This notion is partly supported by empirical data showing that use of hands-free phones is associated with impaired driving in much the same way as use of hand-held phones. In the present study, accident risk when using hand-held and hands-free phones was investigated in a sample of 4,307 drivers who were involved in accidents in 2007. In addition, data from a similar survey from 1997 (N = 5007) were used in order to get more observations. Relative risk was estimated using "quasi-induced exposure" in multiple-vehicle accidents. Results from the two surveys combined showed a significant increase in accident risk for hand-held mobiles and for hand-held and hands-free phones together. A non-significant tendency towards increased risk for hands-free mobiles was also detected. However, analyses of data from 2007 separately did not result in statistically significant relative risk estimates for any of the mobile types. Hand-held users were more inclined to attribute the accident to mobile phone use than were hands-free users.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2010.09.009
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VF9-5167DSN-2/2/8cfa6b442cb39a47b667f699c359bbef
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09257535
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Backer-Grondahl, Agathe
  • Sagberg, Fridulv
• Publication Date: 2011-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Bibliography; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 324-330
• Serial:
  • Safety Science
  • Volume: 49
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0925-7535
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09257535

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attention; Cellular telephones; Cognition; Drivers; Driving; High risk drivers; Impaired drivers; Mobile telephones; Risk management
• Candidate Terms: Handheld devices
• Uncontrolled Terms: Distracted drivers; Driving while telephoning; Hands free telephones
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01323872
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 28 2010 1:30PM