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| Research article summary (published 27 Feb 2003): |
Collision and violation involvement of drivers who use cellular telephones.
Full Abstract
The study sample consisted of 3,869 drivers, split approximately 50/50 between observed cell phone users and those observed not using cell phones (labeled "nonusers"). Cell phone use was determined by a snapshot observation made on city streets. The sample represented 54% of those originally observed, for whom a match was obtained for both vehicle license plate and for gender and estimated age group of the observed driver and that of the driver named in the vehicle policy. Data were obtained from records of insurance claims, police-reported collisions and violations, following a strict protocol to protect individual privacy. The dependent measures were at-fault crash claims and "inattention" violations. A logistic regression model controlled for age, gender, exposure (represented by not-at-fault crash claims), alcohol-related offenses, and aggressive driving offenses. The study also involved a comparison of the contributing factors and collision configurations of police-reported collisions involving the users and "nonusers" in the sample. Drivers observed using cell phones had a higher risk of an at-fault crash than did the "nonusers," although the difference was not significant for males. There was no apparent effect on "inattention" violations. The cell phone users also had a higher proportion of rear-end collisions. The violation pattern of cell phone users suggests that they are, in general, riskier drivers. These differences likely reflect lifestyle, attitude and personality factors. It is essential to control for these factors in assessing the direct risk attributable to cellular telephone use.
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Author information
Author/s: Wilson, Jean (J); Fang, Ming (M); Wiggins, Sandra (S); Cooper, Peter (P);
Affiliation: Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. jean.wilson(-atsign-)icbc.com
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Journal: Traffic injury prevention (Traffic Inj Prev), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2003-Mar; vol 4 (issue 1) : pp 45-52
Dates: Created 2003/10/02; Completed 2003/10/28; Revised 2006/11/15;
PMID: 14522661, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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