Study Shows Smartphones Account For 25% of Traffic Accidents

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Jessica Navarro

The Governors Highway Safety Association conducted a study that revealed that driver distraction due to smartphones accounts for roughly 15 to 25% of all traffic accidents. The GHSA is urging states to enforce laws pertaining to cell phone use for novice drivers as well as laws pertaining to texting while driving.

The report highlights the need for more studies specifically targeted to the problem to determine how big the problem is as well as how to deal with the issue effectively. The study also incorporates commercial drivers and business employees who constantly use cell phones for communication stating that there should be programs and policies established to prevent accidents from occurring for those drivers.

Driver distraction has been a major concern for many years. In recent years the development of smartphones has made it so that people can not only send text messages to other cell phone users but they can also surf the internet and play games on their phones. With cell phones becoming more and more sophisticated, they are becoming more and more like compact computers; smaller than a standard laptop but capable of the same functionality. This sophistication could become a huge distraction for drivers especially teenagers who constantly use their cell phones for social networking purposes (texting, and social networking websites). Many drivers think using a hands-free system for cell phones will reduce their chance of being in an accident. However, simply keeping both hands on the wheel is not enough to keep a driver from being distracted while driving.

Incorporating and enforcing laws to prevent drivers from using their cell phones altogether could dramatically reduce the number of accidents that occur resulting from driver distraction. By developing more studies targeted toward cell phone laws as well as the activity of cell phone use while driving, organizations like the GHSA and NHTSA can help lawmakers make it harder for driver distraction related to cell phones to be a factor in an accident. Although many people find smartphones convenient, they can pose a very real danger for drivers and cell phone laws should be in place to prevent serious accidents.
 
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Rear-End Collision on Morning Commute Injures Two

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Martin Solomon

Morning rush-hour can be inconvenient, but this Tuesday’s was much worse for a few Chandler motorists. Three cars were stopped at a red light on Dobson road, when a fourth slammed into the rear car, causing a series of collisions. The Arizona Republic reported, two motorists received significant injuries and were transported to a trauma center and local hospital.


In Arizona, drivers have the responsibility to follow at a safe distance and speed to avoid a rear-end collision. That the victims of this accident were stationary at the light indicates the driver that caused the collision was speeding, misjudged the stopping distance, or simply wasn’t paying attention. Either of these scenarios indicates a situation of driver negligence, the consequences of which injured two innocent people.
 

There are many potential distractions on the morning commute. Contributing factors include talking on the cell phone, checking email on a wireless device, or trying to save time and eat breakfast or apply makeup in the car. As tempting as these timesavers may be, a driver’s first responsibility remains the safe operation of his or her vehicle and avoiding collisions like the one Tuesday.
 

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