Driving While Talking on Cell Phones on the Road: Impacts on Car Insurance

The number of cell phone subscribers in the United States reached approximately 159 million in 2003 according to the U.S Census Bureau. Of those 159 million people, 46% of women drivers and 47% of men drivers own a cell phone. Chances are a lot of them take the added risk of talking on their cell phone while driving.

Many researchers have done extensive studies into how cell phone use affects our driving. An early study showed that people talking on their cell phones while driving were four times more likely to get into an accident. The problem is, most of us are dependent on our cell phone and feel lost if we do not have it by us at all times.

The Irresistible Urge to Chat While Driving

Whether it's a quick call to say "hi" to mom, calling home to see what you need to pick up from the grocery store, or calling your friends to see where everyone is, the car offers a convenient talking environment.

Even though cell phones have been around for a while now, they are still considered a novelty to many people, especially young people. The problem is the young drivers who see it as a status symbol to have a cell phone are also the most inexperienced drivers.

Another reason people seem to be talking on the phone in their cars is traffic congestion. While sitting in traffic that seems to go on for eternity, many people turn to their cell phones to alleviate the boredom, and irritation.

Drivers Know The Risks?

In a 2000 Insurance Research Council (IRC) survey of U.S. households, 91% of people polled believed that talking on a cell phone while driving increases the risk of having an accident. Ironically, self reported cell phone use has steadily been on the rise since 1997. This is more then likely due to the fact that more and more people have cell phones these days.

The IRC survey examined who's on the phone, how often, and what they're talking about. Not surprisingly, the survey found that most people are either talking business or figuring out what is going on with family members. Phone ownership was split about equally among men and women, and also equally around the country. The more education and money survey takers had, the more likely they were to have at least one cell phone.

Another aspect of the survey gauged opinions regarding legal restrictions on cell phone use while driving. Nearly 70% of those surveyed thought that laws restricting the use of cell phones while driving were a good idea. However, only about a third thought such laws would be obeyed. 47% believed that safety campaigns would actually reduce cellular phone use while driving.

If You Have to Use Your Phone

Know that you are distracted, even if it doesn't feel like it. Slowing down will help. Don't get into intense or emotional conversations while driving. If it's unavoidable, pulling over will be much less of an inconvenience than getting into an accident.

If you observe someone who is talking while driving and seems distracted, steering clear is safer than honking. A honk may startle the driver and lead to a knee-jerk reaction and possibly an accident. Set safety rules for yourself, such as not using the phone while driving in pedestrian or obstacle intensive areas, such as urban downtowns. Keep your cell phone volume way up, struggling to hear creates even more distraction.

According to the NHTSA, the most common reasons for using a cell phone while driving are to do conduct business, handle family matters, and just having a casual conversation.

Solutions: Are There Any?

In 1997, the New England Journal of Medicine said drivers using cell phones are four times as likely to be in an accident as drivers who aren't talking on phones. More recently, NHTSA reported in 2001 that distraction from cell phone use could be a factor in 20% to 30% of crashes. That is why many cities and states are examining legislation to regulate cell phone use in vehicles. Requiring drivers to use hands free devices, or banning the use of cell phones for non emergency calls, are a few of the ideas that state and city legislations have considered to reduce the amount of driving people do while talking on the phone.

Hands-Free Sets may not be the Answer.

In 2001, the National Safety Council published results of a study that found cell phone conversations were as much of a distraction to drivers as dialing or answering. It was the mental focus on talking and listening that took drivers' focus off the road. In other words, a hands-free headset would not be the cure.

This supported several other studies on the subject of driver distraction. The NSC study gave drivers tasks to perform, then measured their response time to stopping at red lights and breaking. The study showed that drivers talking on a cell phone, whether it was a hand-held or hands-free phone, responded much slower to driving tasks such as braking and stopping.

The Catch 22 with Cell Phone Regulations and Car Insurance

Decisions about regulation will be tricky to come by. Phones are undeniably good to have in a roadside emergency. And many citizens feel that talking on their phones in the car is a necessity and a right, and that only those who cause accidents should be punished, rather than everyone. While legislators examine questions surrounding personal freedom and technology, most safety advocates seem committed to public information campaigns to educate drivers about the risks of cell phones in cars.

In order to buy the next best cell phone that comes out, why not save on your car insurance to afford it? Using InsWeb.com to shop for and compare car insurance quotes on the internet can save you time and money.

Sources: Cellular Telecomunications and Internet Association; National Highway Transportation Safety Administration