Cell Phone Bans Don't Reduce Accidents

[chanel]

Here's a surprising result: Looking purely at the frequency of crashes before and after enactment, new laws that restrict the use of handheld cellphone use (calling and/or texting) while driving produce no recognizable reduction in crashes.

So find researchers from the Highway Loss Data Institute, an organization that is funded by the insurance industry. They looked at the rates of monthly collision claims per 100 insured vehicle years—one car insured for one year—for vehicles up to three years old in the months right before and after hand-held bans went into effect in New York (November 2001), D.C. (July 2004), Connecticut (October 2005), and California (July 2008). This data set was then compared with nearby areas without a ban—for instance, D.C. was compared both with statewide trends in Virginia and Maryland, and with the city of Baltimore.

The methodology effectively corrected for economic swings, seasonal changes in driving changes, and other variables, the researchers say.

The HLDI observed drivers in the affected areas and found that handheld use was down significantly after the ban—but that somehow didn't lead to a lower accident rate.

IIHS Study Finds Cell Phone Bans Don't Reduce Accidents - Auto - FOXNews.com

 

[Smartt33]

Here's a surprising result: Looking purely at the frequency of crashes before and after enactment, new laws that restrict the use of handheld cellphone use (calling and/or texting) while driving produce no recognizable reduction in crashes.

So find researchers from the Highway Loss Data Institute, an organization that is funded by the insurance industry. They looked at the rates of monthly collision claims per 100 insured vehicle years—one car insured for one year—for vehicles up to three years old in the months right before and after hand-held bans went into effect in New York (November 2001), D.C. (July 2004), Connecticut (October 2005), and California (July 2008). This data set was then compared with nearby areas without a ban—for instance, D.C. was compared both with statewide trends in Virginia and Maryland, and with the city of Baltimore.

The methodology effectively corrected for economic swings, seasonal changes in driving changes, and other variables, the researchers say.

The HLDI observed drivers in the affected areas and found that handheld use was down significantly after the ban—but that somehow didn't lead to a lower accident rate.

IIHS Study Finds Cell Phone Bans Don't Reduce Accidents - Auto - FOXNews.com

That could be because responsible people have stopped using their phones (accounting for the decrease in use while driving), and irresponsible people still do it (accounting for no change in accisends involving cell phone use. In that case there might not be a lot of results at this point. Start prosecuting them, and making the consequences harsher, and I bet there will be a change.

 

[webfocus]

True, accidents could happen but we CAN do something to minimize it. Change starts from with in, we must be responsible enough to know this.

 

[eagleseven]

Tis the problem with most safety features...the safer a vehicle, the more reckless the drivers.

If we all were driving open-air wooden cars with no belts, doors, or windshields, we'd all drive MUCH more carefully.

 

[Baruch Menachem]

I don't see much prosecution.

This may be the same way as the 55 law, where the cops couldn't keep up, so just dealt with the egregious cases and let the rest get away because there just weren't enough hours in the day.

 

[Zoom-boing]

If they'd just pass a law banning stupidity the problem would be solved.