Everyone has heard of the dangers that driving while using your mobile phone. But a new video from a study conducted at the University of Iowa shows just how distracting it can be.
According to the study, using your mobile phone while driving proves to be just as distracting whether you are talking on it or using it for texting. The study found that while using mobile phones, drivers were driving too fast for conditions in 79 percent of single vehicle crashes, following too closely in 36 percent or rear end crashes, and failed to yield to another vehicle in 43 percent of angle crashes.
The report also shows "The driver was inattentive or engaged in some other non-driving-related activity in 58% of crashes overall"
"This research into crash videos has allowed us to better understand the seconds leading up to a crash in a way that was previously not possible," president of the AAA Carolinas Foundation for Traffic Safety, Tiffany Wright says. "The in-depth analysis is proof that teen drivers are distracted in a much higher percentage of crashes than we previously thought."
The footage seen in the video has been gathered since 1997 and features drivers ranging in age from sixteen to nineteen. These teenage drivers spent approximately 4.1 seconds out of the final six seconds before a crash not looking at the road.
The most common forms of distraction leading up to a crash by a teen driver included:
- Interacting with one or more passengers: 15 percent of crashes
- Cell phone use: 12 percent of crashes
- Looking at something in the vehicle: 10 percent of crashes
- Looking at something outside the vehicle: 9 percent of crashes
- Singing/moving to music: 8 percent of crashes
- Grooming: 6 percent of crashes
- Reaching for an object: 6 percent of crashes
Jim Hanni from the AAA says the study shows cell phone use while driving causes 12% of car crashes. However, it should also be noted that cell phones are not the number one cause of distracted driving. That title actually goes to other passengers. Hanni says parents should lead by example.
"Parents put the dang phone down! And put it in the back seat, in the trunk and concentrate on driving and model good behavior," Hanni says.
The video speaks for itself and only underscores the problems caused by distracted driving in a shocking way.
https://youtu.be/SDWmwxQ_NnY
