National Reported Patterns of Driver Cell Phone Use in the United States

Abstract

Most drivers reported talking on phones while driving, even though earlier surveys have found that most people think this behavior should be banned. Fewer drivers overall reported texting, but the frequency of texting was higher among young drivers. Laws banning handheld phone use seem to discourage some drivers from talking on any type of phone and motivate some drivers to talk hands-free. Laws banning texting while driving have little effect on the reported frequency of texting while driving in any age group.

Cognitive pitfall! Videogame players are not immune to dual-task costs

“…engage in phone conversations while on the road (Braitman & McCartt, 2010)? Are there any other groups of people who may be immune to dual-task costs?…”

A Look in the (Driver’s) Mirror: Use of Portable Electronic Devices While Driving by the Driver Safety Research Community

“…Based on some other published data (e.g., Braitman and McCartt, 2010), this expert group appears somewhat less engaged in various distracting behaviors. However, such comparisons are difficult because of differences in question structure and confounds with other demographic characteristics, such as age (which is strongly related to device use).…”

“…As the use of such devices becomes ever more widespread, and their various applications expand, there is concern that there will be ever greater consequences from their use while driving. Evidence of the widespread use of some technologies while driving, and associated safety consequences, come from recent surveys, observational studies, research experiments, and crash analyses (e.g., AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety., 2008;Ascone, Lindsey, and Varghese, 2009;Braitman and McCartt, 2010;Hosking, Young, and Regan, 2006;Madden and Lehnart, 2009;Pickrell, and Ye, 2009). …”

Association Between Cell Phone Restrictions and Teens' Self-Reported Cell Phone Use While Driving

“…A previous self-report survey study (Braitman and McCartt 2010) on the impact of restriction types on driver behavior had mixed findings. Drivers in states with an all-driver hand-held restriction, banning the physical use of the phone while driving, had a significantly lower percentage of hand-held cell phone use while driving, relative to drivers in states where the ban was not in effect.…”