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Cell Phones and Driving: Research Update. AAA Foundation. Established in 1947 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Research affiliate of AAA/CAA North American Focus. Mission. Identify traffic safety problems Foster research that seeks solutions Disseminate information and educational resources.
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Cell Phones and Driving: Research Update
AAA Foundation • Established in 1947 • 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit • Research affiliate of AAA/CAA • North American Focus
Mission • Identify traffic safety problems • Foster research that seeks solutions • Disseminate information and educational resources
Funded through the generosity of • and its members
Two surveys used in this analysis: • 2008 Traffic Safety Culture Index • CARAVAN omnibus survey
What’s the Problem? • As of Dec 2007, 84% of U.S. population or 255 million people were cell phone subscribers The 2.1 trillion minutes used talking reflects a 300% increase from 2000. (CTIA-The Wireless Association) • Approximately 11% of drivers were using hand-held or hands-free phones while driving at any given moment during the day in 2007 (NHTSA) • Studies looking at phone records of crash-involved drivers have reported phone use while driving increases the risk of an accident by a factor of 4.
The Research • AAA Foundation’s Traffic Safety Culture Index • Nationally-representative telephone survey of U.S. adults ages 18+ • Conducted from October 25, 2007 through January 10, 2008 by NuStats, LLC • Surveyed a random sample of 2,509 U.S. adults on a variety of traffic safety issues, including cell phone use while driving. • Opinion Research Corporation’s CARAVAN • Nationally-representative cost-shared omnibus telephone survey • Surveys conduced from September 4 through September 8, 2008 included questions from the AAA Foundation on cell phone use while driving.
Survey Results • Both surveys found more than half of all drivers admitted talking on a cell phone while driving in the past 30 days, specifically: • 53% of drivers (TSC Index) and 61% (CARAVAN) report talking on a cell phone while driving at least occasionally • 16-17% (both surveys) report doing this regularly
Younger Drivers • Surveys indicated that younger drivers are more likely to use a cell phone while driving the oldest age groups… • …but it’s not just young drivers. • Drivers aged 25-34 had highest rates of any cell phone use (TSCI) and of regular cell phone use while driving (both surveys) • Over half of drivers aged 45 to 54 reported using cell phones while driving at least occasionally (both surveys)
Rates of Driver Cell Phone Use by Age *Full bar = any usage Shaded portion = often or very often **Based on data collected in the AAA Foundation’s 2008 Traffic Safety Culture Index
Text Messaging while Driving • Both surveys found that a significant minority of people admit reading or sending text messages or emails (hereafter “text messages”) while driving: • 14% of drivers (TSC Index) and 17% (CARAVAN) report text messaging while driving at least occasionally • 3% (both surveys) report doing this regularly • Young drivers (ages 18-24) were by far the most likely to do this
Text Messaging while Driving by Age • *Full bar = any usage Shaded portion = often or very often **Based on data collected in the AAA Foundation’s 2008 Traffic Safety Culture Index
“Do as I Say, Not as I Do” • TSC Index survey found that 83% of drivers felt that drivers using cell phones was a serious problem But 46% of those same drivers later admitted to using a cell phone while driving!
People think hands-free is safer (It isn’t) • 2 out of every 3 drivers* think that using a hands-free cell phone while driving is safer than using a hand-held phone... • …BUT virtually all studies have found that using hands-free phones while driving is no safer than using a hand-held cell phone. *Based on data collected in the CARAVAN survey
“Too many Americans are driving around with a false sense of security that hands-free devices are somehow safer, which could be a deadly mistake.”-J. Peter Kissinger, AAA Foundation President & CEO
To view the full “Cell Phones and Driving: Research Update” report or find other information about traffic safety culture, go to www.AAAFoundation.org.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) public charity located in Washington, DC that is dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries. It is supported by donations from AAA/CAA Clubs, AAA/CAA members, and other organizations associated with AAA/CAA.