Cell Phone Use While Driving

EFFECTS OF CELL PHONE USE WHILE DRIVING: A 4-YEAR STUDY

For the last 4 years I have observed the effects of cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle in motion in relation to other distractions like eating, talking, disciplining or finding things for children, fumbling with stereos, smoking and the like. This was done by objectively and intensely observing driving behavior wherever I went in my vehicle using different paths to and from my destination.

What I found was that 90% of traffic flow impediments on the freeway were caused by slow driving cell phone users. An average of 22 vehicles changed from the lane behind the cell phone user to another lane to pass and then back in front of the cell phone user before the user woke up and changed to the slower lane. This adds up to 44 lane changes for each cell phone user. The more users per a given distance, the more lane changes are required. The more often a vehicle changes lanes the greater chance of driver mistake thus the greater chance of an accident.

On the city streets, an average of 4 vehicles were impeded from going through a green light due to the slow moving vehicle driven by the cell phone user at half the speed limit who was not paying attention to driving conditions or traffic flow needs. They were all in a world of their own.

Another observation was that females in the vehicle have to look at each other when they talk and the user would look at the others in the vehicle when asking them a question by the person on the other end of the phone. The constant looking at riders inside the vehicle causes the vehicle to wander within its lane. The phone is then typically passed around the vehicle.

I have also observed motorist with manual transmissions hold the cell phone in the right hand, the steering wheel with their knees, and shift bringing their left arm all the way over to the right where the shifter is and shift up or down while the vehicle snakes all over the road. As soon as they engage the clutch pedal, only one knee is guiding the steering wheel. The vehicle then wanders in the lane. One can only wonder what is so important.

On the city streets, users will be so involved in the conversation that they forget where they are. They will be driving straight ahead as if they are going through the intersection, and then desperately turn right or left sharply 90 degrees. The vehicle behind has moved to the right to turn right then all of a sudden the user turns right in front of them. The oncoming vehicles that have moved to turn right or left thinks the user is going straight. The user then makes a desperate left turn, directly into the vehicle turning right or head on into the vehicle turning left.

One of the differences with cell phone users is that it is more distracting due to the human habit of trying to picture, “visualize”, the party to whom they are talking. This happens at home, office or during any phone conversation. They become far more involved than the other noted distraction types. The other reason for greater distraction is that the subject matter of the conversation can greatly distract the driver from paying proper attention. The other party is asking questions making the driver work harder to visualize something to help them remember.

I see a lot of what appears to be verbal fights, which distracts the driver and is one of the most dangerous. Along with fighting, dialing is another most dangerous distraction. Probably the worst is looking all over the inside of the vehicle for the phone. I have seen these vehicles change lanes and have not been able to see the driver behind the wheel!

Driving while on the cell phone and trying to take notes on what to bring home, where to stop to get something and other tasks being dictated seems to be a great distraction from paying attention to driving. Cell Phone use ranges from 3% during the day to 30% from 3:00PM to 7:00 PM.

Cell phone usage has also become a part of "moving territoriality", or where-ever a person is including a vehicle, that is their territory so they drive how they want to regardless of others. This then enhances aggression by the those impeded by the slow moving vehicle. I have seen a great increase in yelling, hand and face gestures by those who are being impeded who probably did not previously express themselves in these manners in public. (Cell phone use also causes territoriality in stores and restaurants. They get mad at others listening to their conversations in public and want others to move away.)

Looking at this study from a city, county or state management point of view, whom is charged with keeping the flow of traffic moving with limited funds while the residents complain about traffic, you can see where part of the problem is. How much traffic is backed up from this driver distraction? If the residents demand building new or widened roads to clear traffic but impede the traffic themselves with cell phone use, are these expenditures really necessary. Here again is the introduction of aerospace business management and quality trend analysis techniques into government which is what my website is trying to accomplish.

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