Friday, July 31, 2009
Students exposed to cell phone ringtones score 25 percent worse
Students exposed to a briefly ringing cell phone scored 25 percent worse on a test of material presented before the distraction.
(PhysOrg.com) -- A flurry of recent research has documented that talking on a cell phone poses a dangerous distraction for drivers and others whose attention should be focused elsewhere. Now, a new study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology finds that just the ring of a cell phone may be equally distracting, especially when it comes in a classroom setting or includes a familiar song as a ringtone.
"In any setting where people are trying to acquire knowledge and trying to retain that information in some way, a distraction that may just seem like a common annoyance to people may have a really disruptive effect on their later retention of that information," said the study's lead author, Jill Shelton, a postdoctoral psychology fellow in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.
The study includes an experiment in which Shelton poses as a student seated in the middle of a crowded undergraduate psychology lecture and allows a cell phone in her handbag to continue ringing loudly for about 30 seconds.
Students tested later scored about 25 percent worse for recall of course content presented during the distraction, even though the same information was covered by the professor just prior to the phone ring and projected as text in a slide show shown throughout the distraction. Students scored even worse when Shelton added to the disturbance by frantically searching her handbag as if attempting to find and silence her ringing phone.
"Many of us consider a cell phone ringing in a public place to be an annoying disruption, but this study confirms that these nuisance noises also have real-life impacts," Shelton said. "These seemingly innocuous events are not only a distraction, but they have a real influence on learning."
Titled "The distracting effects of a ringing cell phone: An investigation of the laboratory and the classroom setting," the study was conducted at Louisiana State University, where Shelton received her doctoral degree. Her co-authors in the LSU psychology department include Emily Elliott, Sharon Eaves and Amanda Exner.
The study explores cognitive differences in how we respond to auditory distractions, specifically whether we process these interruptions using a voluntary, top-down, executive-level shift in attention or as a more reflexive, automatic and involuntary reorientation of attention.
Perhaps most surprising, the study found that unexpected exposure to snippets of a popular song, such as those often used as ringtones, can have an even-longer-lasting negative impact on attention.
In this phase of the experiment, students in a laboratory were tested on simple word-recognition tasks while exposed to a range of auditory distractions, including irrelevant tones, standard cell phone rings and parts of a song very familiar to most LSU students. The song, an instrumental version of the LSU fight song, was then being played incessantly around campus as LSU football made its fall 2007 run to the national college championship. The song also became a popular cell phone ringtone.
"When we played the fight song as part of our lab experiments, the distraction factor lasted longer," Shelton said. "It slowed down their decision-making performance for a longer time than even a standard ringtone."
Thus, people who use popular songs as a personal ringtone may be increasing the odds their cell phone rings will be more distracting. "Depending on how familiar people are with these songs, it could lead to an even worse impairment in their cognitive performance," she said.
The study raises concerns for people who attempt to concentrate while being bombarded by beeps and buzzes from incoming email or text messages. Findings suggest the potential for distraction is greater if the ring tone has some special meaning or personal relevance, such as a custom tone that identifies a call as coming from a parent, close friend or boss at work.
On the bright side, students in repeated trials of the experiment eventually were able to block the distracting effects of both standard and song-based cell phone rings, gradually reducing cognitive impairment caused by them.
"There's definitely some evidence to suggest that people can become habituated to a distracting noise," Shelton said. "If you're in an office where the phones are just ringing all the time everyday, it may initially be distracting to you, but you will probably get over it."
While these findings have plenty of real world implications, they also shed light on whether a voluntary or involuntary model best describes cognitive lapses caused by nuisance noises.
Recent research has shown that talking on a cell phone while driving results in serious consequences, such as slower braking responses and increased risks of running red lights and collisions — effects attributed to phone conversation absorbing important voluntary attentional resources needed to respond to information in the driving field.
The unexpected ringing of a phone, on the other hand, might be explained using the involuntary model, one that views our response as a more automatic, almost reflexive re-orienting of attentional resources, and a process over which we have little control.
Shelton suggests that our response to a ringing cell phone may involve a combination of these cognitive responses depending on the situation and whether the ring is unexpected. In one of her lab experiments, she found that participants who were warned about the potential for distraction were able to recover more quickly and moderate their levels of cognitive impairment.
"Our experiments suggest that there is a benefit to prior knowledge in how we respond to nuisance noises," Shelton said. "It doesn't mean you won't experience a disruption to what you were doing for that brief period, but your cognitive system can adjust and get back on task fairly quickly."
Provided by Washington University in St. Louis
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
‘Distracted Driving’ the Cause of 80 percent of Auto Crashes
State law enforcement agencies and the AAA designated April 29, 2009 as “Distracted Driving Awareness Day,” and urged Virginia drivers to make a pledge to pay attention while driving.
According to a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) study, nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve driver inattention within three seconds of the crash.
“Due in part to the Tech study and other data, distracted driving is becoming recognized as a top danger behind the wheel, along with speeding and impaired driving,” said David Mitchell, Deputy Commissioner of DMV. “We strongly support Governor Tim Kaine’s initiatives to raise awareness about this danger, including the proclamation recognizing April 29, 2009 as Distracted Driving Awareness Day in Virginia.”
In addition, the Governor also took the important step of signing into law a bill that will prohibit text messaging behind the wheel. This law takes effect on July 1, 2009.
“DRIVE SMART Virginia created this day of awareness to help people recognize the danger they put themselves in when they drive distracted. A person who would never consider drinking and driving may not hesitate to text while driving, which has been shown to be as dangerous,” said Janet Brooking, Executive Director of DRIVE SMART Virginia. “We believe that once people understand the danger of taking their eyes and/or mind off of the task of driving, they will work to change their bad habits behind the wheel.”
Distracted driving includes activities such as personal grooming, eating, reaching for items in the car, and talking and texting on a cell phone. A University of Utah study shows that a person talking on a cell phone is four times more likely to get into a crash than someone driving without distraction from the phone. For someone texting when driving, the likelihood is six times higher.
“Although driving seems like second nature, it’s still a skill that requires constant, complex coordination between your mind and body. Unfortunately, a moment’s lapse in attention can have tragic consequences, so you should always keep your mind on the task at hand,” stated Martha M. Meade, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “AAA is committed to educating drivers on the full range of distractions that can lead to crashes, from adjusting the radio or attending to children, to eating and drinking or using a mobile phone. All distractions place the driver, passengers and others on the road at risk.”
Consider the following:
- Distracted driving may be defined as anything that takes your eyes and/or mind off of the road.
- There is no difference in the cognitive distraction between hand-held and hands-free devices. (Simulator studies at the U. of Utah.)
- The Wireless Association reports 270 million cell phone subscribers. A Nationwide Insurance public opinion poll showed 81 percent of the public admit to talking on a cell phone while driving, which translates to estimates of more than 200 million people using cell phones while driving.
- The annual cost of crashes caused by cell phone use is estimated to be $43 billion (Harvard Center for Risk Analysis).
- Talking to a passenger while driving is significantly safer than talking on a cell phone. (University of Utah)
- While over 90 percent of teen drivers say they don’t drink and drive, nine out of ten say they’ve seen passengers distracting the driver, or drivers using cell phones. (National Teen Driver Survey)
- So, while studies show that drivers on mobile phones are more impaired than drivers that are legally intoxicated, apparently that message has not reached our teen population.
- A Harris Poll determined that 9 out of 10 American adults believe that sending text messages while driving is distracting, dangerous and should be outlawed.
- According to that same Harris Poll, 57 percent of those surveyed admitted to sending text messages while driving. In the age group of 18 to 34, that number rose to 72 percent.
- More than 1 trillion text messages were sent worldwide last year. More than 75 billion messages were sent in June 2008 alone, which is a 160 percent increase over the prior year. (International Association for the Wireless Telecommunications Industry)
- As of June 2008, 85 percent of the American population had a wireless device. (International Association for the Wireless Telecommunications Industry)
“Multi-tasking has become such a daily part of our lives that many people don’t think about the risks to themselves and others when it’s done behind the wheel,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “It only takes a few seconds to change a CD, grab a drink, dial a cell phone, crash your vehicle and change a life forever.”
Top Ten Tips to Minimize Your Distracted Driving:
CHANGE YOUR WAYS and recognize the activities that distract you, such as eating, conversing on the phone, or changing a CD. Once you recognize these distractions, you can work to eliminate them.
MAKE A PLAN. Know your route in advance and make sure that you have a good understanding of your directions. Check weather and road conditions. If you are transporting children, make sure that they are all properly buckled up and that you have items to keep them occupied, such as books on tape or soft toys.
MANAGE YOUR TIME so that you do not have to multi-task or drive aggressively on the road.
DON’T LET YOUR DRIVE TIME BECOME YOUR DOWN TIME. Understand that driving is not your “down time” or a time to catch up on phone calls, personal grooming, or dining.
SCAN the roadway to make sure that you are aware of others on the road at all times. Be prepared for the unpredictability of others.
CONCENTRATE on your driving. Make sure that you are not upset or tired when getting on the road. This is not the time to have a serious or emotional conversation with your passengers.
PULL OVER if you need to do something that will take your eyes and/or mind off the road. Make sure that you find a safe place to pull over first.
REDUCE THE USE! Use technology sensibly.
TAKE A REFRESHER CLASS! Everyone can pick up bad habits through the years. A driver improvement class can raise your awareness and help you assess your driving behaviors.
BUCKLE UP, EVERY TRIP, EVERY TIME. Making sure that everyone is properly buckled up is the best defense against distracted drivers.
TAKE THE PLEDGE: Pledge to drive distraction free by visiting http://www.drivesmartva.org and click on the red ‘Don’t Drive Distracted’ box to the right.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Study: Texts while driving even more dangerous
Motorists take eyes off road longer than when talking or listening on phone
A new study found that when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting.
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Texting while driving increases the risk of a crash much more than previous studies have concluded with motorists taking their eyes off the road longer than they do when talking or listening on their cell phones, a safety research institute said Monday.
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute used cameras to continuously observe light vehicle drivers and truckers for more than 6 million miles. It found that when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting.
Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of collision about 6 times in cars and trucks.
Recent research using driving simulators suggested that talking and listening were as dangerous as texting, but the "naturalistic driving studies clearly indicate that this is not the case," a news release from the institute said. The risks of texting generally applied to all drivers, not just truckers, the researchers said. Complete results were expected to be released Tuesday.
Right before a crash or near collision, drivers spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices, which was enough time at 55 mph to cover more than the length of a football field.
"Talking/listening to a cell phone allowed drivers to maintain eyes on the road and were not associated with an increased safety risk to nearly the same degree," the institute said. "These results show conclusively that a real key to significantly improving safety is keeping your eyes on the road."
The institute recommended that texting should be banned for all drivers and all cell phone use should be prohibited for newly licensed teen drivers. Fourteen states do ban texting while driving.
The study also concluded that headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held because the primary risks associated with both are answering, dialing, and other tasks that take drivers' eyes off the road.
Voice activated systems are less risky if they are designed well enough so drivers do not have to take their eyes off the road often or for long periods.
A call to the institute was not immediately returned Monday night for more details.
Monday, July 27, 2009
A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Objective: The objective of this research was to determine the relative impairment associated with conversing on a cellular telephone while driving. Background: Epidemiological evidence suggests that the relative risk of being in a traffic accident while using a cell phone is similar to the hazard associated with driving with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit. The purpose of this research was to provide a direct comparison of the driving performance of a cell phone driver and a drunk driver in a controlled laboratory setting. Method: We used a high-fidelity driving simulator to compare the performance of cell phone drivers with drivers who were intoxicated from ethanol (i.e., blood alcohol concentration at 0.08% weight/volume). Results: When drivers were conversing on either a handheld or hands-free cell phone, their braking reactions were delayed and they were involved in more traffic accidents than when they were not conversing on a cell phone. By contrast, when drivers were intoxicated from ethanol they exhibited a more aggressive driving style, following closer to the vehicle immediately in front of them and applying more force while braking. Conclusion: When driving conditions and time on task were controlled for, the impairments associated with using a cell phone while driving can be as profound as those associated with driving while drunk. Application: This research may help to provide guidance for regulation addressing driver distraction caused by cell phone conversations.
Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Vol. 48, No. 2, 381-391 (2006)
DOI: 10.1518/001872006777724471
CELL PHONES AND DRIVING
Over 125 studies have confirmed what most people suspected: Driving and talking on a cell phone can get you killed.
Sadly, many parents have no idea how dangerous it is until the damage is done.
And note that the one common link between all of the research is the fact that using a hands-free phone is absolutely no safer than driving with a hand-held phone.
The only thing a hands-free device can do is give people a false sense of security and safety.
Accidents, Injuries and Death
Accurate tracking of accidents caused by cell phone use is difficult because most of these accidents are filed under "driver distraction" or "driver inattention."
Further, unless someone admits to using a cell phone, or a witness is involved, law enforcement must prove a link by knowing the exact time of the accident.
That time must match the phone record showing the driver was indeed using the phone. And an accident report might say the driver was speeding and talking or texting on their phone.
Was it the speeding or the distraction of the phone that caused the problem? Or both? Add to that the huge problem that most people will never admit they were using their phone.
| The one thing that everyone agrees is that accidents caused by cell phones are vastly under-reported. Here's a very small sample of what is happening in the USA alone: • Alaska — Authorities report that a driver of an SUV crossed five lanes of traffic and slammed into a train. The unnamed driver had reached down to pick up his cell phone that he dropped. • Arkansas — Paul Davidson, 41, was killed when 27-year-old Michael Blanchard crossed the center line. Authorities said that Blanchard had been texting on his phone. He later killed himself after being charged in causing the death of Davidson. |
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• Arkansas — Kevin L. Castillo, 22, was text-messaging on his phone when his truck left the road and crashed. Castillo died in the crash.
• Arkansas — Thomas Jones was looking at his cell phone when he crashed into Robin Matlock, causing injuries to Matlock and her passenger.
• Arkansas — Two children received head injuries when Linda Childers Knapp struck the vehicle of Shadrick Adams. Knapp was talking on her cell phone.
• Arkansas — Mariah West, 18, was killed when she lost control of her car causing it to flip several times. Her family says she was text-messaging at the time of the crash.
• Arizona — Police report that 18-year-old Ashley Miller was sending a text message when she crossed the center line and slammed into a vehicle driven by Stacey Stubbs. Both Miller and Stubbs were killed.
• Arizona — An 18-year-old girl slammed head-on into another car killing both drivers. Police report the accident was caused by the teen texting on her phone. (Video)
• California — Los Angeles commuter train engineer Robert Sanchez missed a signal that caused 25 people to lose their lives. Records indicate that Sanchez had been texting on his phone.
• California — Deborah Matis-Engle, 49, was using her text-messaging feature to pay bills when she slammed into cars that were stopped on the highway. Petra Winn, 46, was killed when her car burst into flames from the impact.
• California — Gladis Andrade-Zepeda, 33, dropped her cell phone and was looking for it when she crashed. Andrade-Zepeda was killed when her car was struck by a second vehicle.
• California — According to the Highway Patrol, Ronald Rudisill, 63, was killed by a driver who was allegedly driving under the influence of drugs and sending a text message. The driver didn't see that traffic had stopped.
• California — 16-year-old Kayla Preuss was killed when the vehicle she was driving went out of control and crashed. She had been drinking, speeding, and sending text messages at the time of the crash. Her open cell phone was found at her feet.
• California — 5-year-old Kyle Coble and his two sisters Emma, 4, and Katie, 2, were all killed when the vehicle they were in was slammed into by trucker Jorge Miguel Romero, who was trying to check his cell phone voice mail.
• California — Authorities report that David Burns, 55, was talking on his cell phone when he slammed into a highway maintenance truck. Three people were hospitalized.
• California — Brittany Nichole Rodrigues, 20, was talking on her phone when she left the road and slammed into a utility pole.
• California — California Highway Patrol officer Dwight Havens was injured when an unnamed driver on a cell phone slammed into another car which then hit Havens' car.
• California — Miriam Duarte, 39, reached for her ringing cell phone, ran off the road and flipped her vehicle. Duarte and her passenger Maria Loyola, 49, had to be removed from the vehicle with the Jaws of Life.
• Colorado — Erica Forney, 9, was struck and killed by an SUV driven by Michelle Smith, who was driving and talking on her phone. Smith received 24 months probation and a $300.00 fine.
• Colorado — 18-year-old Makayla Lynn Belew was killed after being hit by a driver who was text messaging on his phone.
• Colorado — 18-year-old Nancy Trimpe was killed when Donte Brown, 24, ran a light and struck Trimpe's vehicle. Police report that Brown was distracted by his cell phone.
• Colorado — Jim R. Price, 63, was hit and killed while riding his bicycle in the bicycle lane of Wildcat Reserve Parkway. The 17-year-old driver was text-messaging on his cell phone when he hit Mr. Price.
• Colorado — Samantha Ann Loy, 18, was killed when she rolled her vehicle into oncoming traffic. The Colorado State Patrol suspects that she was texting at the time.
• Colorado — Michael Richardson, 40, was reaching for his cell phone when his car left the road and rolled. Richardson's 9-year-old son was killed.
• Colorado — Police report that a trucker was distracted by his cell phone and hit a guard rail pushing it into traffic.
• Connecticut — 82-year-old James Morrissey died a month after being run down by a driver chatting on a cell phone.
• Connecticut— Sharlyn Ayala-Gonzalez, 19, was talking on her cell phone while trying to pass another car and slammed into a guardrail. She suffered serious injuries.
• Delaware — 25-year-old William Mangum told police that he was trying to pick up his cell phone when he crashed into a utilitiy pole and fire hydrant.
• Florida — Lesley Beers, 32, was killed when her car was slammed into from behind by a vehicle driven by Sheila Hulick. Cell phone records show that Hulick was on her phone. A jury later awarded Beers' husband 21.6 million dollars in a wrongful death suit.
• Florida — Stephanie Phillips, 37, and Heather Hurd, 26, were killed when a tractor-trailer ran a stop light. The trucker was distracted by text-messaging on his phone. Numerous other people suffered injuries. (Accident Pics)
• Florida — Dawn Ann Thoma, 32, was killed when she drove into the path of a freight train. Dawn was talking to her brother on the phone at the time of the crash.
• Florida — An unnamed 17-year-old female was distracted by her cell phone and slammed into a man trimming trees, pinning him against a wood chipper. (News Video)
• Florida — Jessica Balmer, 20, reached for her dropped cell phone and slammed head-on into a vehicle driven by Phillip Trotman. Trotman and his passenger, Barbara Trotman, suffered serious injuries.
• Florida — Katelyn Blaylock, 18, was text messaging when she didn't see a stop light, and slammed into a Tampa police car. (News Video)
• Georgia — Ryan Duffner, age 2, was killed when his mother's car was hit by a 16-year-old girl who was using her cell phone while driving. Ryan's mother, Lisa Duffner, sustained serious injuries in the crash.
• Georgia — A woman known only as Allison wrecked her car while trying to drive and talk to a radio station. (News Video)
• Illinois — Katlin McGuire, age 20, was killed when she was distracted by her cell phone. Her passenger received serious injuries.
• Illinois — Matt Wilhelm, age 25, was killed by a driver who was busy downloading ringtones onto her phone.
• Illinois — Sandra Jeffers, 58, crashed and overturned in a cornfield because of reaching down to answer her cell phone.
• Illinois — Alyssa Burns, 17, was text-messaging at the time she lost control of her vehicle, killing her.
• Illinois — Sisters Jessica Uhl, 18, and Kelli Uhl, 13, were killed when their vehicle was hit head-on by Illinois State Police trooper Matt Mitchell. According to documents from a civil suit, trooper Mitchell was sending and receiving e-mails with another trooper, talking to his girlfriend on his cell phone, and doing over 100 MPH.
• Illinois — Ronald Funes-Pineda, 26, was legally drunk and talking on his cell phone when he crashed into a police car injuring the two officers inside.
• Illinois — Witnesses report that Richard Handzel was talking on his cell phone when he crashed into 53-year-old James White. Mr. White suffered severe leg injuries.
• Indiana — Eight people were killed when a semi-trailer slammed into a line of cars. The trucker, Leonardo Cooksey, 32, was trying to charge his cell phone and didn't notice that traffic had stopped.
| • Indiana — Kira Hudson, 20, was having an emotional phone conversation with her boyfriend when she crashed. She is now a paraplegic and gives talks about the dangers of driving while using a phone. • Indiana — Sarah L. Woodruff, 20, was killed when her car left the road and flipped 6 times. State Police report that Sarah had been texting on her phone. • Indiana — Rodney Thompson, 18, was killed when he lost control and struck a utility pole. A 15-year-old female passenger said that Rodney had been texting on his phone at the time of the crash. • Indiana — Jessica Johns, 22, told police that she crashed because she was drunk and trying to pick up her cell phone that she had dropped. • Indiana — Thirty-three-year-old Amber Parsons was drunk and trying to send a text message when her vehicle left the road and crashed into a tree. • Indiana — An unnamed 17-year-old girl told police that she was using her cell phone when she left the road, drove over 70 feet through a yard, and smashed into a house. |
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• Indiana — Authorities report that Faith Mendez, 16, was sending and receiving text messages when her vehicle left the road and crashed, throwing Mendez from the vehicle.
• Indiana — Witnesses report that 52-year-old Delbert Majors was talking on his cell phone when he ran through a stop light and killed 56-year-old Raymond Ferrari. Police report that Majors' also had cocaine in his system.
• Indiana — Charles Carroll, 41, slammed into a tree after he became distracted by his cell phone.
• Indiana — Logan A. Miller, 17, was on his cell phone when his car left the road and crashed into a tree.
• Indiana — William D. Cundiff, 26, told police that he was looking at his ringing cell phone when his car crashed into an Indiana State Police officer.
• Indiana — Casey Uebel, 19, was driving on an icy road and using her cell phone when her 2007 Ford Explorer left the road and landed in some trees.
• Iowa — An unnamed 21-year-old male told police that he was text-messaging when he caused a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 35/80.
• Kansas — Valorie Graham, 38, told State police that she was on her phone when she struck another vehicle, killing Terry Higginbotham, 60, and Jeanie Larson, 64. Graham later said in court that she wasn't using her phone.
• Kansas — Ashley Umscheid, 19, was killed when her vehicle left the road and flipped. Ashley had been text-messaging on her phone.
• Kansas — According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 15-year-old Megan Renae Thacker was reaching for her phone when her car went through a fence and airborne into a field.
• Kansas — UPS driver Jeremy L. McMillion looked down at his ringing cell phone and crossed the median, went through a fence and hit a building.
• Kentucky — 58-year old Robert Hite was killed when he crashed into a tractor-trailer stopped in traffic. Investigators report that Hite was on his cell phone.
• Kentucky — Two people were injured when 54-year-old Jacqueline Toombs slowed down to answer her cell phone.
• Kentucky — Witnesses report that 22-year-old Melaine Berryhill was talking on her cell phone when she turned in front of 43-year-old Sharon Howard. Howard's vehicle was forced down an embankment. Both drivers were taken to the hospital.
• Kentucky — Kentucky State Police report that 20-year-old Jeffery Smith was texting on his phone when his car left the road and slammed into a utility pole.
• Kentucky — Laura Silva, 43, was struck and killed as she tried to retrieve her cell phone that had been thrown into the roadway.
• Maine — Police believe that Heather Bouchard, 24, dropped her cell phone which caused her to cross the median and crash into oncoming traffic. Bouchard was killed, two others were injured.
• Maine — A 16-year-old girl told authorities that she smashed into a parked car because she dozed off, but officers discovered that she had really been texting.
• Maine — Police report that Alexandra Fordbesson, 18, was on her phone when she ran a stop light and caused a collision.
• Massachusetts — John McCarthy, 58, was hit and killed by a driver who admitted to sending a text message at the time of the crash.
• Massachusetts — Craig P. Bigos, 31, told authorities that he was trying to drive and send a text message when he lost control of his SUV and killed 13-year-old Earman Machado.
• Massachusetts — Jordan Cibley, 18, was killed when his car left the road and struck a tree. Jordan was talking on the phone to his dad when the accident occurred.
• Massachusetts — An unnamed 39-year-old woman was trying to pick up her cell phone that she dropped when she drove through the front of a salon.
• Massachusetts — Aiden Quinn, 24, told authorities that he had been text-messaging his girlfriend when his MBTA Green Line trolley ran a red light and rear-ended another trolley, injuring over 40 passengers.
• Massachusetts — Police report that Melissa Martin, 17, was text-messaging at the time she drove her car off the road and into a tree, killing her.
• Michigan — Jun Joseph Kojima, age 27, died after being hit by an 18-year-old driver who was reaching for his cell phone.
• Michigan — Twelve-year-old Joe Teater was killed when Holly Jo Smeckert, 20, drove through a stop light and crashed into the Teater's vehicle. Smeckert was so consumed by her phone conversation that she didn't even apply her brakes at the stop light.
• Michigan — A 27-year-old woman was driving while texting when she left the road and mowed down a woman and her child in their own driveway. (News Video)
• Michigan — Courtney Tucker, age 19, crashed into a bus while trying to read an incoming text message.
• Minnesota — 21-year-old Leanne Toepper was killed while chatting on her phone. The person she was talking to heard her screams before the phone went dead.
• Minnesota — Kylie Grayden and Kelly Phillips, both 17, we killed when the car Grayden was driving left the road and crashed. Mitch Grengs, a passenger in the car and the cousin of Grayden, said that he believes that Grayden was looking at her iPod or cell phone at the time of the crash.
• Mississippi — Puckett High School senior Daniel Howell was killed when he crashed his car while using his cell phone.
• Missouri — Two-year-old Jackson Moore was killed when his dad—who was riding an ATV with his son—looked down to check an incoming text message.
• Missouri — Three people were killed and 15 injured when trucker Jeffrey R. Knight was distracted by his cell phone.
• Montana — 13-year-old Frances Margay Schee was killed when her school bus was hit by a semi-trailer. The trucker, Reinaldo Gonzalez, admitted that he was talking on his cell phone at the time of the crash. • Montana — Christie Johnson, 34, was killed while trying to plug in her cell phone. Four passengers were injured. • Montana — An unnamed 43-year-old man was using his cell phone at the time he slammed into the back of a logging truck on U.S. 93, near Missoula. The man died in the crash. • Montana — Carol Fowler, 20, reached to pick up her cell phone which caused her vehicle to slam into and roll an oncoming van. • Montana — Breanne Ledbetter, 29, was on the sidewalk jogging while pushing a stroller when she was hit by 16-year-old Tyrell Littlebird. Littlebird told police that he was text-messaging at the time of the accident. • Nebraska — Barbara Baltzell, 53, told authorities that she was distracted because of looking at her cell phone when she slammed into a Nebraska State Patrol officer. • New Hampshire — Jeremy Marcelonis, 22, suffered numerous injuries when his vehicle slammed into the back of a trash truck. Marcelonis told police that he was distracted due to texting on his phone. |
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• New Jersey — 7-year-old Sierra Kerber was killed when a driver on a cell phone ran a red light and crashed into an SUV driven by Sierra's father.
• New Jersey — Adele Loring, 47, suffered critical injuries after hitting another car and overturning. Police report that witnesses saw the victim talking on her phone at the time of the crash.
• New Jersey — Christine Davis, 21, was too busy reading text messages to notice that her car was getting ready to crash into a parked Cadillac. The insurance company said the Caddy was a total loss.
• New Jersey — Jeffrey Latimer, 29, reached for his cell phone, crossed the center line and side-swiped another car.
• New Mexico — Witnesses report that 41-year-old Douglas Flores was trying to text message when his moped slammed into a telephone pole. Flores was killed.
• New York — Five girls who had recently graduated high school were killed when their SUV crashed. Phone records show that the phone registered to the driver (Bailey Goodman) was in use at the time of the crash. Evidence also suggests that she was speeding.
• New York — Five people were killed when Shawn E. Roush lost control of his car. Roush was legally drunk, driving 90 and arguing with his wife on his cell phone at the time of the crash.
• New York — 22-year-old Lance Homer had been drinking, looked at his cell phone to read a text message, and crashed his car on RT 48.
• North Carolina — Macy Winslow, 16, was killed when her vehicle crossed the center line and struck another vehicle. State Police report that there is strong evidence to suggest that Macy had been using her phone when she was killed. Two other people suffered injuries.
• North Carolina — William Daniel Edwards, 59, was looking for his cell phone when his car sideswiped a parked car, drove across a sidewalk, then crashed into the front glass of a flower shop.
• North Dakota — Amanda Burtness, 18, was injured when she was distracted by her cell phone. Her car left the road and flipped upside down in a pond.
• Ohio — Karyn Cordell, 22, and her unborn child were killed when 16-year-old Alexander Manocchio reached over to answer his phone and slammed head-on into Cordell's car.
• Ohio — Seventeen-year-old twins, Kathy and Kimberly Seager, were killed while stopped at a railroad crossing. The twin's car was crushed from behind by a 23-year-old driver who was talking on his cell phone. The driver didn't even try to stop.
• Ohio — Sarah Stearns, 18, told police that she had been sending a text message when the car she was driving hit a mailbox and overturned.
• Ohio — Five-year-old Dameatrius McCreary was killed after exiting a school bus. Angelique Dipman told police that she hit Dameatrius because of reaching down to answer her phone.
• Ohio — An unnamed 18-year-old female was using her phone when she slammed into a utility pole on Chambersburg Road near Route 4.
• Oklahoma — 19-year-old Brittanie Montgomery was killed while driving and using her phone. Brittanie was a dancer for the Hornets NBA basketball team. Her mother is now an advocate for banning the use of cell phones while driving.
• Oklahoma — Jessalyn Sanders, 6, was killed while walking across a street. The driver, Justin Pearsall, told police that he didn't see Jessalyn because he had reached down to answer his phone.
• Oklahoma — Deena Cantrell, 35, rolled her vehicle 7 times after being distracted by her cell phone.
• Oregon — Witnesses report that Sherry Varo, 17, was busy using her phone when she was struck and killed while trying to cross a highway.
• Pennsylvania — Two-year-old Morgan Lee Pena was killed when the car she was riding in was struck by a driver on a cell phone. The driver was too distracted to notice the stop sign.
• Pennsylvania — According to state police, Britnee Nicole Moore, 20, reached down to answer her phone, crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a car driven by 16-year-old Hope Katelynn Mayle, killing her.
• Pennsylvania — Jay and Jean Good, both 58, were killed when their vehicle was slammed into by a tractor-trailer. Todd Whitt, 18, was trying to answer his phone when he pulled into the path of the tractor-trailer, which caused the semi to slam into the Goods' vehicle. The crash left Jacy Good, 22, in a temporary coma.
• Pennsylvania — Christopher Strouse, 24, said that he was distracted by plugging in his cell phone when he hit two girls who were walking along the road. Chelsea Lynn Lancieri, 15, was killed.
• Pennsylvania — Erica L. Rodriguez, 20, was reaching for her cell phone when she smashed into parked cars, injuring a 7-year-old boy.
• Pennsylvania — State police report that William E. Roth, 33, was texting on his phone when he lost control of his truck.
• South Dakota — An unnamed 43-year-old Sioux Falls man reached to grab his cell phone and rolled his vehicle on I-90.
• Texas — Ryan Perez, 24, reached for his cell phone and slammed into a vehicle driven by 18-year-old Samantha Ibarra. Ibarra died in the crash.
• Texas — Chanton Jenkins, 32, was trying to answer his cell phone when he lost control of his car which slid into a rain-filled ditch. Five children in Jenkins' car were killed.
• Texas — Dr. Michael Sanchez was hit and killed while jogging. The driver told police that he was was answering his cell phone.
• Texas — Stephanie Phelps, 16, was using her cell phone when she ran through a stop sign and crashed into a cement truck. Phelps and her 4-month-old daughter were killed.
• Texas — Officer Jason Norling was killed by a driver who was using a cell phone. His wife, Lisa, told local media that she lost her husband to a cell phone.
• Texas — Sergio Kindle was text-messaging when he lost control of his vehicle and slammed into an Austin apartment building.
• Texas — Witnesses report that 49-year-old Gabriele Zarecor was text-messaging when her vehicle struck a concrete barrier. Zarecor was killed in the crash.
• Texas — Cameron Bates, 23, reached for his cell phone, became distracted, and rolled the pickup he was driving.
• Texas — An unnamed man said he was trying to answer his cell phone when his vehicle slammed into a tree. His 10-year-old son received critical injuries in the crash.
• Utah — 17-year-old Lauren Mulkey was killed by a driver who ran a light because he was trying to find a number on his cell phone. • Utah — James A. Furfaro, 38, and Keith P. Odell, 50, were killed when 21-year-old Reggie Shaw sideswiped their vehicle. Phone records show that Shaw had been text-messaging from the time he left home to the time of the accident. For killing two people, Shaw was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 150 hours community service. • Utah — Utah State Police report that a man—identified only as a man in his 40's—rolled his vehicle on I-80 because he was trying to answer his phone. |
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• Utah — Utah State Police report that a woman—identified only as a 64-year-old female—was so consumed in her phone conversation that she didn't even hit the brakes before slamming into a truck that was parked in the emergency lane of I-15. The woman suffered critical injuries.
• Virginia — Joan D. Skupien, 40, was using her phone when her car left the road and crashed into a tree. Skupien died in the crash.
• Virginia — Michael Ozyjowski, 75, was killed when he was run off the road by a woman driving and talking on a cell phone.
• Virginia — Daniel Peinado was talking on his phone when he stepped into a street and was struck and killed.
• Virginia — Nikia Upshur, 27, was driving drunk on U.S. 13 when she reached for her cell phone and crashed. Kiokus Upshur Jr., 5, was thrown out the rear window and killed.
• Virginia — A Virginia State Trooper was injured when 24-year-old Sabrina Farbor hit the Trooper's car, which had pulled over another vehicle. Farbor was using her phone at the time of the accident.
• Washington — Witnesses told the FBI that Sela Anne Kalama, 19, was texting on her phone when she drove off the road and into a river. 17-year-old Vanna K. Francis and 15-year-old Ronnie Scroggins were killed in the crash.
• Washington — A 16-year-old girl told authorities that she smashed into a parked car because she was reading a text message from her boyfriend.
• Washington — Police believe that Brandy Anderson Bergen, 22, was reading a text message when her car failed to round a curve. Bergen suffered severe head trauma.
• Washington — Three people were injured when a 29-year-old man lost control of his vehicle on I-5 and crossed the median, slamming head-on into another car. The 29-year-old was trying to put his cell phone on speaker mode when he lost control.
• Washington — A truck loaded with propane crashed and overturned near a school. Authorities said the driver was on his cell phone when the crash occurred.
• Washington — A 10-year-old boy was struck and seriously injured as he rode his skateboard while talking to his mother on the phone. The boy, Leonardo Soule, made a turn in the street without checking for traffic.
• West Virginia — Chad Ray, of Hurricane, W. VA., is accused of talking on a cell phone at the moment he collided head-on with a school bus.
• West Virginia — Michael Shelley blew through a red light while talking on his phone. One person was killed.
• West Virginia — A minivan driver lost control, hit a car and overturned because of trying to find his cell phone.
• Wisconsin — Witnesses report that 48-year-old Janet Indermuehle was talking on her phone when she lost control and crashed. Indermuehle, her 15-year-old son Daniel Hall, and 14-year-old Tiffany Kastner were all killed.
• Wisconsin — 22-year-old Adam Teumerd was killed after his vehicle left the road and crashed into water. Adam was talking on his cell phone when the person he was speaking with heard the accident.
• Wisconsin — Tracey McDonald-Iwunze, 28, was using her phone when her car ran a stop light and killed Kathryn Marjama.
• Wyoming — Bradley Johnson, 20, was killed while apparently reading a text message when his vehicle crashed.
• Wyoming — 17-year-old Mitchell Birch was killed when his car left the road and went down an embankment. State Police suspect that he was either sending or reading a text message at the time of the accident.
• Wyoming — Brittany Rentas, 16, was killed after the car she was driving collided with another vehicle. Rentas had been texting on her phone.
Careless Talk
Driving while talking on a hand-held mobile must be one of the most widely flouted laws. Next week, motorists caught in the act will face stiffer penalties, but why is the message proving so hard to get through?
When the law banning driving while using a hand-held phone was introduced it was two hours before the first motorist fell foul of it. The only surprise for most people was that it took so long.
The sight of drivers with a mobile handset jammed between jaw and shoulder is still common. Few seem to care they're doing anything wrong and obviously don't think there's much chance of getting caught.
People are putting lives at risk just to tell someone what they want for dinner
Linda Hudd
Road safety campaigner
After it became illegal in December 2003, with offenders facing a £30 fine, 90% of drivers stopped. But compliance has slipped markedly.
Today, up to 10 million motorists - almost a quarter of all UK drivers - admit to still doing it, says to the government. Three million say they text while driving. The police are now getting tough. From next Tuesday motorists who are caught will pay a £60 fine and get three points on their licence.
Why? Because talking on a mobile phone while driving is worse than drink-driving and those who do it are four times more likely to have an accident, according to research.
Over-optimistic
"The problem with mobiles is not vehicular control and only having one hand on the wheel, but rather it is taking away attention from what is happening outside the car," says Dr Graham Hole, author of The Psychology of Driving.
So why is the potential for harm not getting through? Why are millions still doing it and how do you stop them?
Part of the problem is people are notoriously over-optimistic about their driving ability. While most accept driving after a few drinks impairs judgement and reaction time, a lot still don't think using a hand-held mobile is risky.
VOTE
Do you ever use your mobile hand-set while driving?
Yes
No
Results are indicative and may not reflect public opinion
Some drivers argue it's no more of a distraction than talking to a passenger, but experts disagree, suggesting that even hands-free kits - which are legal - are dangerous.
"The danger with a conversation on a mobile is that it psychologically removes you from the vehicle," says Cris Burgess, an expert on driving behaviour and the psychology of rule breaking.
"In your head you take yourself from the car and put yourself next to the person you are talking to. It's very different from talking to a passenger in the vehicle with you. They are aware of the pressures on you at any given moment.
Morality
"If you're approaching a tricky road junction, they might stop talking until you have safely negotiated it. Someone on the other end of a phone doesn't do that."
It's this abstract quality to the argument that hinders getting the message across, say experts. With drink-driving the issue is more concrete: knock back five pints and you won't be able to walk straight, let alone drive.
It's a more grey area when you drink less, but then most people police themselves because drink-driving has become morally wrong and is socially unacceptable. That's not the case with mobile phones, which is another problem for safety campaigners.
Man using mobile phone in car
Using mobile 'worse than drink-driving'
"If there's no internal pressure to abide by a law then external pressure is less likely to work," says Mr Burgess. "People are far more likely to police themselves if they think something is morally wrong."
And often it comes down to putting themselves or others at risk just to say something as banal as they are on their way home for tea.
Linda Hudd's 11-year-old daughter Rebekka was killed when a car mounted a pavement and hit her. The driver was using a mobile phone at the time to call his girlfriend. He was convicted, fined £250 and received six points on his licence.
"He had just left his girlfriend. I don't know what was so important that he had to call her just a few minutes later, but I know it wasn't as important as my daughter's life," she says.
Taboo
"Before mobiles were invented we managed to drive from one place to another without making phone calls. Now people are putting lives at risk just to tell someone what they want for dinner."
When humans change their behaviour they go through certain psychological stages. On this issue a lot of people are stuck in the "contemplative stage". Basically, they accept it can affect concentration but labour under the illusion they can deal with the consequences.
So how do you move people from contemplating to the "action stage" where they change their behaviour?
FINES ISSUED
2003 - 1,437
2004 - 68,813
2005 - 123,195
2006 - 131,857
Source: DoT
"It has to be a combination of the carrot and stick," says Mr Burgess. "You need to educate people to get them to personally police themselves. Also, the police need a clear policy so there is an increased sense that it is illegal, you will get caught and will be punished."
Police have been criticised for not enforcing the law on driving and using mobiles. Last year 131,857 drivers were caught on British roads and fined. However, if 10 million admit to still doing it, that means just over 1% of offenders are being caught and fined.
Traffic police and the government say they are getting tough with the new measures but campaigners are still sceptical.
"The changes are welcome but not enough," says a spokeswoman for road safety charity Brake. "We want a £1,000 fine and six points put on people's licence. They are serious deterrents.
"People also need to be educated, a lot are really ignorant about the dangers."
89% of Americans Want Texting While Driving Outlawed
According to a 2,049-person poll, demographically weighted proportionally to the US, 89% of adults think that text messenging while driving is "distracting, dangerous and should be outlawed." So how many of those polled text and drive anyway?
66%
So is this a situation of "we know it's for our own good," or, "those other people can't text while driving, but my super multitasking powers make it safe for me"?
I'm guilty of the non-crime. And yes, it's because I believe myself to have heightened (some may say spider-like) reflexes. Should it be banned? Probably. [prnews]
Text messaging not illegal but data clear on its peril
Greg Livadas
Staff writer
Although New York was the first state to ban risky cell phone use by motorists, text messaging by drivers is legal even though research has found that it increases the chance of accidents.
"When people engage in multitasking, they lose the ability to monitor themselves while they are driving," said Frank Drews, a researcher at the University of Utah at Salt Lake City who has studied cell phone and motorist safety for seven years.
"They don't even notice when they are causing problems," he said. "Other drivers, as a consequence, have to be more careful."
In a recently completed and yet-to-be released study of 19- to 24-year-olds in driving simulators, Drews found that motorists who text message while driving are six times more likely to be distracted and have an accident. When a driver texts, driving patterns change. For example, the response time to brake is 23 percent slower — 1.077 seconds when texting and driving compared with 0.881 seconds when unencumbered.
John Ulczycki, director of transportation safety for the National Safety Council, said text messaging is among the worst things a driver can do.
"Any time you take your hands, eyes or brain off the wheel it's not good," he said. "With text messaging, you take all three off the wheel."
Drews calls the result of multitasking while driving "inattention blindness."
"Drivers who are talking on a cell phone (or texting) while driving don't process that visual environment. That could be a red traffic light or the onset of a brake light."
Motorists also can become preoccupied by simply talking to passengers in the same car.
"Usually when you have a passenger, they are able to support the driver by pointing out potential hazards on the street," Drews said. "With teenagers, when you have a bunch in a car, there's an incredible level of distraction going on. They're not good for each other. Once there's two or three in a car, you probably don't get any support."
Investigators of the June 26 accident in which five Perinton teens were killed said the phone owned by the 17-year-old driver was used to make a call and send and receive text messages in the three minutes before the crash. It isn't known whether the driver, Bailey Goodman, or a passenger was text messaging.
Although not familiar with that crash, Drews said having "multiple teens, excited about going to an outing for the weekend, having another car following and someone in the car text messaging ... all of this is a recipe for a disaster. It was dark, making it more difficult to drive. ... It's a nightmare situation."
Even chatting on a hands-free phone poses the same risk as a hand-held phone conversation, Drews said. "We know that it really is the conversation that gets people distracted."
When New York banned motorists from talking on hand-held phones in 2001, text messaging was fairly uncommon.
Only Connecticut, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., have joined New York in prohibiting motorists from driving and talking on hand-held cell phones. California and Washington will ban this cell phone use starting Jan 1. Also, AAA says 14 states restrict the use of cell phones by drivers younger than 18.
No state currently bans texting while driving, although it has been debated in Arizona, New Jersey and Connecticut. Washington state will ban texting while driving on Jan. 1.
That list could likely grow in the coming years as more motorists use text messaging.
# A Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. survey says 20 percent of drivers between 18 and 60 text while driving. For drivers 18 to 27, 37 percent say they text while driving.
# A survey by AAA and Seventeen magazine, released earlier this week, said teen driver distraction is a factor in 25 percent to 50 percent of their crashes. Having other teens in the car was a major distraction.
# A 2006 study by Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety and Students Against Destructive Decisions showed 37 percent of teens said text messaging was extremely or very distracting, compared with 20 percent who said their emotional states were distracting; 19 percent said having friends in the car was distracting.
There's no pending legislation in New York to ban texting while driving. Some wonder why.
"If you're going to have a law that says you can't talk on the phone, it seems to be the same issue if you're texting," said Monroe County District Attorney Mike Green. "There's no question you're distracted."
Assemblyman Bill Reilich, R-Greece, said more laws aren't always the answer. "At some point, as good citizens, you have to use good judgment."
Using a phone or not, drivers are responsible for their actions while driving, said Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero, whose agency investigated the fatal East Bloomfield crash.
"If the message can get out, anytime you're operating a motor vehicle, your only responsibility is the safe operation of that car, not only for yourself but for your passengers," he said Friday. "It comes down to understanding the rules of the road and focusing on operating your vehicle. Distractions are plentiful no matter how old you are."
GLIVADAS@DemocratandChronicle.com
Includes reporting by staff writers Meaghan McDermott and Patrick Flanigan.
Hard Evidence: Study Shows Why Cell Phones and Driving Don't Mix
Newswise — The notion that talking on a cell phone while driving a car isn’t safe seems obvious, yet what happens in the brain while it juggles the two tasks is not.
A study by a University of South Carolina psychology researcher featured in the journal, Experimental Psychology, provides a better understanding of why language – talking and listening, including on a cell phone – interferes with visual tasks, such as driving.
In two different experiments, associate professor of psychology Dr. Amit Almor found that planning to speak and speaking put far more demands on the brain’s resources than listening.
“We measured their attention level and found that subjects were four times more distracted while preparing to speak or speaking than when they were listening,” said Almor of the 47 people who participated in the experiment. “People can tune in or out as needed when listening.”
One experiment required participants to detect visual shapes on a monitor, and a second experiment required participants to use a computer mouse to track a fast-moving target on the screen. In both experiments, participants performed the visual task while listening to prerecorded narratives and responding to the narratives.
Almor calls the finding “very strong” and expects it to be even stronger in actual, interactive conversation. He and Tim Boiteau, a graduate student in linguistics, have repeated the experiment using 20 pairs of friends who engaged in real conversation while completing visual tasks. Those results are being compiled this summer.
“I anticipate the effect to be even stronger and more dynamic because, in conversation, people have the urge to contribute,” said Almor. “In conversation, we compete with the other person. I suspect that the greater the urge to speak, the greater the distraction from the visual task.”
In both experiments, Almor placed the participants in a circular, surround-sound environment in which the speakers were hidden and the voice shifted from the front, rear or either side.
Almor found that participants could complete the visual task in front of them more easily when the projected voice also was in front. This effect, while not so strong as the difference between preparing to speak or speaking and listening, suggests that simultaneously performing a language task and a visual task is easier when the tasks are in the same space physically and cognitively.
“Either people are used to face-to-face communication or, when they engage in a language task, they create a mental representation in their mind and place the voice somewhere in space,” Almor said. “In this case, that space is in front of them, which suggests that it may be easier to have all things that require attention occupy the same space.”
The finding may be useful in the development of new technologies, said Almor. In the case of a car, an internal speaker phone could project a speaker’s voice from the front so that it occupies the same place as the visual task of driving. The same could be applied in remote classroom instruction, in PowerPoint presentations and in military and pilot training.
Almor’s findings are particularly relevant in light of recent statistics.
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported in April that 25 percent of all car accidents are caused by distractions. A survey done by Nationwide Mutual Insurance in 2007 indicated that 73 percent of drivers talk on cell phones while driving. Given that cell-phone sales have vaulted to 254 million in February 2008 up from (4.3 million in 1990), according to the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, there is good reason for researchers to study the brain and how talking and listening on a cell phone interferes with driving a car.
At the University of South Carolina, Almor conducts research on language and memory (the brain’s ability to acquire, organize, revise and store information).
To access the current issue of Experimental Psychology, visit the Web site -- http://www.psycontent.com/content/1618-3169 -- and click on Number 4, Volume 55.