Texting Lifts Crash Risk by Large Margin

[FlyingDutchman]

July 28, 2009 New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/te..._r=1&th&emc=th

In Study, Texting Lifts Crash Risk by Large Margin

By MATT RICHTEL
The first study of drivers texting inside their vehicles shows that the risk sharply exceeds previous estimates based on laboratory research — and far surpasses the dangers of other driving distractions.

The new study, which entailed outfitting the cabs of long-haul trucks with video cameras over 18 months, found that when the drivers texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, which compiled the research and plans to release its findings on Tuesday, also measured the time drivers took their eyes from the road to send or receive texts.

In the moments before a crash or near crash, drivers typically spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices — enough time at typical highway speeds to cover more than the length of a football field.

Even though trucks take longer to stop and are less maneuverable than cars, the findings generally applied to all drivers, who tend to exhibit the same behaviors as the more than 100 truckers studied, the researchers said.

Truckers, they said, do not appear to text more or less than typical car drivers, but they said the study did not compare use patterns that way.

Compared with other sources of driver distraction, “texting is in its own universe of risk,” said Rich Hanowski, who oversaw the study at the institute.

Mr. Hanowski said the texting analysis was financed by $300,000 from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which has the mission of improving safety in trucks and buses. More broadly, the research yielding the results represent a significant logistical undertaking.

The overall cost was $6 million to equip the trucks with video cameras and track them for three million miles as they hauled furniture, frozen foods and other goods across the country.

The final analysis of the data is undergoing peer review before formal publication.

Tom Dingus, director of the Virginia Tech institute, one of the world’s largest vehicle safety research organizations, said the study’s message was clear.

“You should never do this,” he said of texting while driving. “It should be illegal.”

Thirty-six states do not ban texting while driving; 14 do, including Alaska, California, Louisiana and New Jersey. New York legislators have sent a bill to Gov. David A. Paterson. But legislators in some states have rejected such rules, and elected officials say they need more data to determine whether to ban the activity.

One difficulty in measuring crashes caused by texting drivers — and by drivers talking on phones — is that many police agencies do not collect this data or have not compiled long-term studies. Texting also is a relatively new phenomenon.

The issue has drawn attention after several recent highly publicized crashes caused by texting drivers, including an episode in May involving a trolley car driver in Boston who crashed while texting his girlfriend.

Over all, texting has soared. In December, phone users in the United States sent 110 billion messages, a tenfold increase in just three years, according to the cellular phone industry’s trade group, CTIA.

The results of the Virginia Tech study are buttressed by new laboratory research from the University of Utah. In a study over the last 18 months, college students using a sophisticated driving simulator showed an eight times greater crash risk when texting than when not texting.

That study, which is undergoing peer review and has been submitted for publication in The Journal for Human Factors, also found that drivers took their eyes off the road for around five seconds when texting.

David Strayer, a professor who co-wrote the University of Utah report, offered two explanations for the simulator’s showing lower risks than the Virginia study. Trucks are tougher to maneuver and stop, he noted, and the college students in his study might be somewhat better at multitasking.

But the differences in the studies are not the point, Mr. Strayer said. “You’re off the charts in both cases,” he added. “It’s crazy to be doing it.”

At Virginia Tech, researchers said they focused on texting among truckers simply because the trucking study was relatively new and thus better reflected the explosive growth of texting. But another new study from the organization is focusing on texting among so-called light-vehicle drivers, specifically teenagers.

Preliminary results from that study show risk levels for texters roughly comparable to those of the truck drivers. The formal results of the light-vehicle study should be available later this year. By comparison, several field and laboratory studies show that drivers talking on cellphones are four times more likely to cause a crash than other drivers. And a previous

Virginia institute study videotaping car drivers found that they were three times more likely to crash or come close to a crash when dialing a phone and 1.3 times more likely when talking on it.

Researchers focused on distracted driving disagree about whether to place greater value on the results of such a so-called naturalistic study or laboratory studies, which allow the scientists to recreate conditions and measure individual drivers against themselves.

But, in the case of texting, laboratory and real-world researchers say the results are significant — from both scientific methodologies, texting represents a much greater risk to drivers than other distractions.

A new poll shows that many drivers know the risks of texting while driving — and do it anyway. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety plans on Tuesday to publish polling data that show that 87 percent of people consider drivers texting or e-mailing to pose a “very serious” safety threat (roughly equal to the 90 percent who consider drunken drivers a threat).

Of the 2,501 drivers surveyed this spring, 95 percent said that texting was unacceptable behavior. Yet 21 percent of drivers said they had recently texted or e-mailed while driving.

About half of drivers 16 to 24 said they had texted while driving, compared with 22 percent of drivers 35 to 44.

“It’s convenient,” said Robert Smith, 22, a recent college graduate in Windham, Me. He says he regularly texts and drives even though he recognizes that it is a serious risk. He would rather text, he said, than take time on a phone call.

“I put the phone on top of the steering wheel and text with both thumbs,” he said, adding that he often has exchanges of 10 messages or more. Sometimes, “I’ll look up and realize there’s a car sitting there and swerve around it.”

Mr. Smith, who was not part of the AAA survey, said he was surprised by the findings in the new research about texting.

“I’m pretty sure that someday it’s going to come back to bite me,” he said of his behavior.

[Trident_1974]

This comes as no surprise.

[Neece]

Text messaging has become a great pastime or maybe an obsession. Not to mention a convenient way to communicate. I heard an interesting news article concerning text messaging statistics this morning and thought this might be an interesting subject to research and write an article about.

Odd places that people are text messaging from:

1. 77% of people have admitted to text messaging while driving.

2. 79% of people have text messaged while using the bathroom.

3. 37% of people have sent a text message during graduation.

4. 18% of people have text messaged during a wedding.

5. 16% of people have sent a text message during a funeral.

6. 11% have sent a text message during sex!

More interesting text messaging facts:

1. Over 18.5 billion text messages are sent each month.

2. There are over 68.7 million text users.

3. 79% of the U.S. owns a cell phone and SMS is already available on over 98% of these cell phones.

4. Only 10% of text messages are spam as opposed to 65% of e-mail being spam.

5. 62% of people use text messaging to communicate with friends.

6. 55% of people use text messaging to communicate with significant others.

7. 19% use text messaging to communicate with colleagues.

8. Text messages are usually read within 15 minutes of being received and responded to within one hour.

Age statistics of People who Text Message:

1. 19% are ages 18-24

2. 24% are ages 25-34

3. 22% are ages 35-54

4. 19% are ages 45-54

Median age: 38

49% Male/51% Female

[merv808]

It amazes me that they needed a study to know that... Isn't there better things those research dollars could be spent on?

[TWiST]

Originally Posted by Neece

6. 55% of people use text messaging to communicate with significant others.

That one surprises me. I'm not a huge texter, but the bulk of my texting is with 'significant others'. I mean, do you really want to have a full phone call just to say "make sure you buy some minced garlic on the way home" or somesuch? XxX

[sleepless]

This done surprise me none, I mean most people cant walk and chew gum at the same time...

[sicninja]

i acutally saw this on the local news last night. why do you need to text while driving. pull over and do it you idiots!

[Neece]

Originally Posted by TWiST

That one surprises me. I'm not a huge texter, but the bulk of my texting is with 'significant others'. I mean, do you really want to have a full phone call just to say "make sure you buy some minced garlic on the way home" or somesuch? XxX

My family is huge on texting especially for tiny bits of info that don't require a phone call... Simply "we need diapers" as a text to my nieces mom or dad will get the job done without having to disturb them at work. Same with my brother. I just say Mom is making stew to him will guarantee his appearance at the door after work.
Smiles

[BBW Deja Vu]

Originally Posted by sicninja

i acutally saw this on the local news last night. why do you need to text while driving. pull over and do it you idiots!

I'll admit I've done it...that's what knees are for--for steering!!

[merv808]

Originally Posted by BBW Deja Vu

I'll admit I've done it...that's what knees are for--for steering!!

lmao. thats funny. I've never texted while driving, but I do text quite a bit a stop lights. I still get the disgusted looks from people though. Even a lady doing her makeup in the car gave me a dirty look, and she was still working on her eyes as she pulled off

[knottyknicky]

Wait so you're saying that doing something distracting while driving a large vehicle is dangerous?


Shiiiiit.

[planty]

I've done it too.. I swear they outlawed driving on the phone here so what do they expect? lol

its really not a good Idea I get that... yet for some reason when you get a text its almost impossible to not read it.

[Me4U]

Darn, so people can not text, then no shaving, no putting on make up, and eating a burger, smoking, fiddling with the GPS in the car anymore,,,, what are we supposed to do to pass the time... - actually pay attention to the road and drive, oh man that will be hard lol

[BellygirlUK]

It's a no-brainer, yep!
Thing is, before any changes in law or practice can take place, research has to be done even if it's something that we all know through common sense!

And this is illegal in the UK, as is using a phone whilst driving, unless it's a handsfree. How it can still be legal in any country baffles me [shrug] xx

[FlyingDutchman]

Some Western Nations do not want to take the privacy and freedom away from the citizens. The world worked just fine 30+ years ago without cell phones and texting.
But I think people can't be a lone anymore.
They "need" to talk to others about "nothing". Nothing important. I know what you are going to say. Everything you talk about is important. Important is relative.

Personally. I don't use my phone in the car and I do not text, ever. Except when I see an accident or when I was in an accident this year. People need to tell me something important? It is called "voice-mail".

[BellygirlUK]

Originally Posted by FlyingDutchman

.... and texting.
But I think people can't be a lone anymore.
They "need" to talk to others about "nothing". Nothing important. I know what you are going to say. Everything you talk about is important. Important is relative.....

Oh I completely agree! Mobiles have made people feel like they have to have something to say, like Twitter panders to, too! It diminishes the real, interesting, meaty, fulfilling conversations and interactions to constantly be emoting in some way... I should send you the book I lent to Human Torch! Blind Faith by Ben Elton. An extrapolation of this concept. xx

[abigaile9]

I haven't owned a mobile phone in 8 years. I'm not sure I'd be able to able to text even if I had the desire.
I have yet to see any advantages to texting other than not having to physically speak with other people.

[FlyingDutchman]

Originally Posted by BellygirlUK

Oh I completely agree! Mobiles have made people feel like they have to have something to say, like Twitter panders to, too! It diminishes the real, interesting, meaty, fulfilling conversations and interactions to constantly be emoting in some way... I should send you the book I lent to Human Torch! Blind Faith by Ben Elton. An extrapolation of this concept. xx

I'll look it up on Amazon. Thank you BG.

[FlyingDutchman]

Originally Posted by abigaile9

I haven't owned a mobile phone in 8 years. I'm not sure I'd be able to able to text even if I had the desire.
I have yet to see any advantages to texting other than not having to physically speak with other people.

You are not missing anything.

[BellygirlUK]

Originally Posted by abigaile9

I haven't owned a mobile phone in 8 years. I'm not sure I'd be able to able to text even if I had the desire.
I have yet to see any advantages to texting other than not having to physically speak with other people.

I use my mobile a lot less than most people I reckon... and I had an old brick for years when everyone was on contracts and had snazzy, slimmer 'phones already. But I do move around a lot the last few years so it's a way of being in contact with my family and friends without having to have a landline at my disposal. Plus I have to be in potentially instant contact with healthcare providers just in case of emergencies with my tum so I even take my mobile to the loo with me! So there's practical benefits as well as just sociable or over-social ones.

There *is* a certain frissance involved in texting. Par example, ma cherie, if I know that my excruciatingly delicious boy is in a lecture and I send him a text with a photo, he will get a tingle in his thigh when he receives it, as he'll have his mobile on vibrate ... and I do find it arousing to send him a photo of what's waiting for him in knee-length boots and fishnets when he gets out of Uni... xx

[FlyingDutchman]

Originally Posted by BellygirlUK

There *is* a certain frissance involved in texting. Par example, ma cherie, if I know that my excruciatingly delicious boy is in a lecture and I send him a text with a photo, he will get a tingle in his thigh when he receives it, as he'll have his mobile on vibrate ... and I do find it arousing to send him a photo of what's waiting for him in knee-length boots and fishnets when he gets out of Uni... xx

Hilarious, you are such a big flirt. Excellent You are something else. I hope DK can handle this. LOL

[TWiST]

Originally Posted by BellygirlUK

There *is* a certain frissance involved in texting. Par example, ma cherie, if I know that my excruciatingly delicious boy is in a lecture and I send him a text with a photo, he will get a tingle in his thigh when he receives it, as he'll have his mobile on vibrate ... and I do find it arousing to send him a photo of what's waiting for him in knee-length boots and fishnets when he gets out of Uni... xx

Bloody hell.... you've just done in one quick post what Nokia (orwhoever the hell sells phones these days...) was unable to do in a decade of endless advertising... you made texting look appealing!
XXX

[sleepless]

I dont know why I forgot this but last month this chick hit my car, it was parked on the side of the road in front of the crib, she had been texting right before that, she was insured tho ching ching

[angelsfun]

No shocker here. I admit I have been guilty of texting while driving and doing other things. Here in Ontario, Canada it will be against the law as of October 1, 2009. I now pull over and do my text messaging - or wait till a more appropriate time.

[BellygirlUK]

Originally Posted by sleepless

I dont know why I forgot this but last month this chick hit my car, it was parked on the side of the road in front of the crib, she had been texting right before that, she was insured tho ching ching

Oh yeah! Man you just made me remember something that happened just over a week ago to one of DarriansRock's family's friends... he was working with heavy machinery in a field and was just returning to his trailer parked in the road when a woman just ploughed into his trailer!! She was texting whilst driving and just went smacko into his safely parked trailer! He needs it for work and it's beyond repair so he's got to wait for insurance companies to stop being dickheads... but, personally, I think the woman should have to buy him a brand new trailer! I expect she'll be prosecuted though.

See, even if it might seem OK on a straight road with easy view for miles ahead and no traffic, this was in the countryside and it's madness to take your eyes off the road for more than a second or two, really, as there's so many potential obstacles and always dips, twists and turns.