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Study finds widening gap between distracted driving and legislation

Date:
May 24, 2011
Source:
Temple University
Summary:
Laws to prevent distracted driving, particularly in relation to cell phone use, have multiplied; a new study finds that there is a widening gap between the data on distracted driving and the laws used to curb it.
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FULL STORY

Cell phone distractions account for more than 300,000 car crashes each year. As a result, most states have put laws in place to limit or prohibit the use of things like cell phones and PDAs while driving. But a new study led by Temple University finds a widening gap between the evidence on distracted driving and the laws being passed to address the problem.

The new study, published this month in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, is the first comprehensive collection and coding of state laws attempting to address the public health risk posed by distracted driving.

Lead author Jennifer Ibrahim and her team analyzed distracted driving laws passed between January 1, 1992 and November 1, 2010, and found that laws varied from state to state based on type of mobile communication device (cell phones, laptops, tablet computers), categories of drivers (by age or by driving permit type), and types or locations of MCD use.

Enforcement and penalties also varied from state to state; as of November 2010, 39 states plus Washington DC had one or more laws restricting use of MCDs while driving; 11 states had no laws; and no state outlawed the use of cell phones completely.

The researchers say that there is no systematic review currently in place to evaluate MCD laws or provide evidence on their effectiveness, but that from a research standpoint, the variation is helpful -- they are able to compare legislation from state to state to identify for future research what provisions within a given law make it particularly effective.

"We know that distracted driving is dangerous, yet despite the diffusion of distracted driving laws, there is evidence that driver use of MCDs is increasing," said Ibrahim, an assistant professor of public health in the College of Health Professions and Social Work. "Our study is the first step toward understanding which laws really do reduce distracted driving, and thus can reduce related crashes and associated injuries and fatalities."

Co-authors on this study are Evan Anderson and Scott Burris of the Temple University Beasley School of Law, and Alexander Wagenaar of the University of Florida College of Medicine. Funding for this research was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's National Program Office for Public Health Law Research.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Temple University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Jennifer K. Ibrahim, Evan D. Anderson, Scott C. Burris, Alexander C. Wagenaar. State Laws Restricting Driver Use of Mobile Communications Devices. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2011; 40 (6): 659 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.02.024

Cite This Page:

Temple University. "Study finds widening gap between distracted driving and legislation." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 24 May 2011. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110524153534.htm>.
Temple University. (2011, May 24). Study finds widening gap between distracted driving and legislation. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110524153534.htm
Temple University. "Study finds widening gap between distracted driving and legislation." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110524153534.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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