With so many organizations and law makers aiming to ban the use of cell phones in cars, it is important to know that the real problem is distracted driving. It has been responsible for vehicular accidents for far longer than cell phones have been around.
In 2009, car crashes involving distracted drivers killed almost 5,500 people. As per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only 18% of these accidents were due to cell phone distractions. Around 84% were reported as fatalities due to general carelessness or inattentiveness. Of course, this includes cell phones. But, a majority of them referred to eating, talking to the other passengers, looking out of the window or looking for an item.
According to a recent survey carried out by Chubb Group of Insurance Cos., drivers have seen other motorists involved in distracted behavior. Around 90% of these said they have seen people eating and drinking while driving. Another 77% claimed that they have observed drivers applying makeup, shaving and brushing their hair. 62% people have watched motorists changing CDs and radio stations and an equal number of people have seen them argue with kids. 18% people even claim to have seen people changing clothes while driving.
Russ Rader, spokesman for the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, says, “It doesn't appear that banning various kinds of cell phone is going to have the desired effect on reducing crashes”. Insurance Institute of Highway Safety is a non-profit organization that is supported by the nation's largest insurance agencies.
The president of HLDI, an insurance data group that is affiliated to the organization, Adrian Lund suggests that states should give up on banning texting and concentrate on other distractions too.
Comments
Post a Comment