We’re hearing more and more about how talking on cell phones while driving causes accidents, and how cell phones should be banned while driving, and so forth. The objections raised often annoy me, because I really don’t see how talking on a cell phone is any more distracting than talking to passengers in car. Personally, I think talking to passengers can be more distracting, because they’re right there, and therefore harder to tune out if the traffic situation necessitates it… not to mention the drivers who turn around to make a point to somebody in the back seat!
Well, in a newsletter I recently received from the Co-operators, I ran across some interesting statistics (attributed to the Canadian Safety Council). It says that “driver distractions contribute to an estimated 20 to 30% of all collisions” (emphasis mine), and then goes on to break down those distractions:
- Adjusting a radio of CD player — 11.4%
- Dealing with children, and conversation with passengers — 10.9%
- Eating and drinking — 1.7%
- Using a cell phone — 1.5%
Hmm. Look at that.
#1 by Plurk on November 16th, 2004 - 11:18 am
It makes sense to me.
#2 by Jin597 on November 16th, 2004 - 12:13 pm
I wonder where “intimate acts” would score in the percentages. They must occur, but likely not reported. Everybody remembers “Thinner”?