The Impact of cellular phone use on

automotive safety
Name: Adham Mohamed Salah Elsamahy

ID: 221005569

Course Name: Professional Ethics and Practice Law

Course Code: UNR-4201

Professor's Name: Dr Yahia Elattar
Cellular Phones and Automotive Safety

Introduction

Automotive safety has always been a critical concern for policymakers, engineers, and
society as a whole. With the advent of mobile technology, the convenience of constant
connectivity has presented new and unforeseen challenges for road safety. Mobile phone
use while driving has emerged as one of the leading contributors to distracted driving,
which significantly increases the risk of road traffic accidents. The U.S. National Safety
Council estimates that cellphone distractions are involved in 26% of all car crashes,
emphasizing the scope of the issue and its impact on public health and safety.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009, a

total of 5,474 people died on the United States roadways and approximately extra 448,000
were afflicted with injuries resulting from motor vehicles crashes that were an attribute of
distracted driving. 995 of deaths associated with distracted-driving–related accidents were
attributing to cell phone use representing 18% of the overall fatalities in distraction-related
accidents.

Arguably, these cases are avoidable because they directly involve indiscipline by individuals.
Live is precious thing which cannot be replaced, such that anybody who acts in a way that
he or she put a live or lives at risk does not deserve the tiniest empathy with regard to
penalties associated with violation of the relevant legislation

Case Study Analysis

A case–control study was conducted to determine statistical associations between traffic

fatalities and the use or presence of a cellular phone, given involvement in a collision. The
hypothesis of this study does not imply that cellular phones directly affect fatalities, but
that phones increase the risk of certain accident characteristics in fatal collisions more than
those same characteristics in non-fatal collisions. Analysis employed data from 223 to 137
traffic accidents occurring between 1992 and 1995. Information on collision characteristics
and cellular phone involvement for each fatality was compared with the same information
for each non-fatality (controls). Statistically adjusting for other collision variables (age,
gender, alcohol use, speed, inattention and driving left of center), an approximate nine-fold
increased risk was found for a fatality given the use of a cellular phone. An approximate
two-fold increased risk for a fatality was found given the presence of a cellular phone in the
vehicle. Combined effects of reported phone use, driving to the left of center and
inattention increased the risk of a fatal collision more than phone use did by itself. This
analysis implies a statistical, but not necessarily a causal, relationship. A multitude of
factors are involved in any traffic collision, and the exact cause of an accident and its
severity level is difficult to disentangle.

Earlier studies on cellular phones involved traffic simulations which suggested that the use
of phones while driving affected perceptual and motor skills (McKnight and McKnight,
1991, McKnight and McKnight, 1993; Alm and Nilsson, 1990; Stein et al., 1987; Zwahlen
et al., 1988). More recently, the consequences of phone use under actual traffic conditions
have been examined. A case–control study in New York State found a 34% increased risk
of a collision among those with cellular phones in their vehicle. Persons who used cellular
phones for more than a median time of 50 minutes per month stood a five-fold increased
risk of a traffic collision (Violanti and Marshall, 1996). A study in Canada, utilizing the
case-crossover design, found that cellular-phone activity while driving quadrupled the
relative risk of a collision (Redelmeier and Tibshirani, 1997). Based on this Canadian data,
Maclure and Mittleman (1997) estimated that if one in ten vehicles have a cellular phone
by the year 2000, then a maximum of 1.2% of all collisions may be attributed to phone use.
This would amount to a societal cost of 2–4 billion dollars per year.

A well-known early case that highlighted the dangers of driver distraction was the Ford
Explorer rollover incidents of the 1990s. Although the incidents were initially attributed to
stability issues, investigations revealed that distracted driving, including mobile phone use,
was a significant contributor in some cases. As mobile phone technology advanced rapidly
in the early 2000s, so too did the incidents involve distracted driving.

One particularly impactful case occurred in 2017 in Texas, where a driver lost control of his
vehicle while video chatting on his phone. The resulting accident claimed the lives of four
people and drew significant media attention. The Texas Department of Public Safety later
confirmed that the driver was using a video calling app, which diverted his attention from
the road for a critical few seconds. This tragedy, and similar incidents, underscore the
severe consequences of mobile distractions.

Similar cases are seen worldwide. In the United Kingdom, a young driver was recently
sentenced to three years in prison after causing a fatal accident while texting. The case,
heavily reported in the media, illustrated the life-changing consequences of a momentary
lapse in attention. These incidents have propelled lawmakers, technology companies, and
engineers to re-evaluate how best to address mobile phone-related distractions.

In Canada, the number of incidents caused by distracted driving rose by nearly 30%
between 2015 and 2020, according to Transport Canada. Provincial and federal authorities
responded with public awareness campaigns and stricter fines, but the rising trend of
mobile phone use indicates the challenge of fully eradicating this behavior. Statistics from
multiple countries emphasize that mobile phone distractions are especially common among
younger drivers. With nearly 60% of surveyed drivers aged 18-24 admitting to texting or
browsing social media while driving, public safety advocates are calling for comprehensive
interventions targeted at this demographic.

This visualization demonstrates the significant role of distracted driving in accident-related

deaths, with phone-related distractions contributing a noticeable portion.

Research Findings

Research indicates that mobile phone use while driving—whether hand-held or hands-free
—greatly elevates the risk of a traffic accident. A landmark study by the AAA Foundation
for Traffic Safety found that even a hands-free device can delay reaction times by as much
as 20%, as drivers’ cognitive load increases when managing a phone conversation or
reading notifications. Delayed reaction times translate into impaired response to sudden
changes in traffic, road conditions, and the behavior of other drivers, increasing the risk of
accidents and fatalities.

In early 2024, The Zebra, the nation's leading insurance comparison website, launched a
new survey to identify texting and driving behavior patterns and beliefs in drivers in the
United States. Using similar benchmarks and questions from the 2021 survey, the results
reflected a sharp increase in not just texting, but other cell phone use while driving.
 47% of drivers in 2024 admitted to sending or reading a text message while driving.
This was a sharp (31%) increase from the previous survey three years earlier.
57% drivers admitted to adjusting a GPS device while driving, which studies show is no
less dangerous than texting and driving.
There were significant generational differences with 55% of Gen Z and Millennial
drivers admitting to texting and driving compared to 43% of Gen X drivers and 33%
of Boomer drivers.
The majority of respondents said they were "somewhat familiar" with the laws around
cell phone use in their state.
When asked which is more dangerous texting and driving or drinking and driving, 71%
said that both are equally dangerous and 9% of people said texting and driving is more
dangerous.

Key insights + statistics

1. Distracted driving claimed 3,522 lives in 2021. (NHTSA)

2. As of 2024, 48 states and the District of Columbia have banned texting while driving.
(NSC)
3. Cell phone usage reduces a driver’s attention by as much as 37%. (Children’s Hospital
of Philadelphia Research Institute)
4. In 2015, 42% of high school students admitted that they text or email while driving.
(AT&T)
5. In 2015, 391,000 people were injured due to distracted driving (NHTSA)
6. In 2018, 400,000 people were injured and 2,800 people died in distracted driving motor
vehicle accidents. (NHTSA)
7. Approximately 660,000 drivers are attempting to use their phones while driving.
(NHTSA)
8. 14% of fatal crashes involve cell phones. (III)
9. Using a phone while driving causes 1.6 million crashes every year. (NSC)
10. Drivers who text while operating a vehicle are 23 times more likely to become involved
in a car accident. (FCC)
11. The chances of an accident occurring once a driver’s eyes are taken off the road
increase by a staggering 400%. (NSC)
12. More than 3,000 teenagers die each year in crashes that involve texting and driving.
(III)

In a 2020 report by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), researchers quantified the
risk of using a mobile device while driving, finding that drivers who engage in text
messaging are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident. This is largely due to both
physical and cognitive distractions; the act of typing a message not only takes a driver’s
eyes off the road but also diverts their mental focus.

The present study examined statistical associations between the use or presence of cellular
phones and fatal traffic collisions. Results indicated that both the use and presence of a
phone were associated with an increased statistical risk of a traffic fatality, given
involvement in a collision. Drivers reported as using a phone stood an approximate nine-
fold risk for a fatality over those not using a phone. Drivers with a phone present in their
vehicle were at approximately twice the risk

Current Laws and Regulations

Around the world, governments have implemented laws in response to the mounting
evidence of the risks of mobile phone use while driving. In Japan, for example, laws have
been established to ban all forms of mobile phone use while driving, with steep fines and
penalties for violators. A first-time offense can lead to significant fines, license points, and
even possible imprisonment if the violation leads to an accident. This strict approach has
been credited with a significant decline in accidents related to mobile phone distractions
over the last decade.

In the United States, however, legislation varies significantly by state. While texting while
driving is illegal in most states, there is no federal ban on hand-held phone use. California
and New York, for instance, have implemented strict no-hand-held device laws, while other
states have limited restrictions, such as only banning hand-held use for young drivers or for
certain road conditions. This inconsistency presents enforcement challenges and creates a
disparity in distracted driving accident rates across the country.
In 2020, getting caught texting or otherwise using your phone while driving will raise your
insurance rate by an average of 21.65% ($315) — and in some states more than 45.96%.
The total cost to your insurance — the rate impact on your policy for three years — for a
texting-while-driving violation is $1,772.

In Europe, countries like France, the United Kingdom, and Germany have also adopted
strict legislation against hand-held mobile phone use while driving. The UK has taken a
particularly rigorous approach, imposing six penalty points and a substantial fine for
anyone caught using a hand-held device while driving. Norway has implemented both strict
legislation and intensive public awareness campaigns, achieving one of the lowest mobile-
phone-related accident rates in Europe. Norway’s model highlights the importance of
consistent enforcement and public education in reducing accidents.

The Role of Engineers

Health and safety engineers are exploring new methods of protecting drivers. As noted in
an article on PublicHealthDegrees.org, these engineers are responsible for developing new
procedures and systems to keep people healthy. To do this, they identify potential hazards,
evaluate control measures, install safety devices, review and update policies, regulations,
and processes to ensure safety, and ensure compliance.
With so many cars on the roads, it’s no surprise that car accidents are as common as they
are. Cars are a huge responsibility, and a lack of attention in any area could cause an
accident.

Sadly, one of the main causes of car accidents is distracted driving. With the prevalence of
cellphones, drivers — especially young drivers — are more distracted than ever by what’s
happening online and, on their phones, whether on social media or simply in their text
messages. Although there are various regulations limiting or disallowing cellphone use
while driving in many states, neither the law nor strong advocacy urging people to avoid
using phones while driving can enforce this safety precaution.

With such severe potential consequences, car manufacturers are collaborating with
engineers to find ways to implement technology that will increase the safety of vehicles and
potentially reduce the number of accidents that happen on the road. This technology could
help save lives by preventing distracted driving.

For example, engineers have developed a gadget known as “Groove” that would
temporarily block all calls and messages from being received by a car’s driver while the car
is in motion. Although this could help keep drivers focused on the road, implementation is
difficult because car manufacturers don’t want to enforce technology that could push away
their customers.

Car manufacturers, insurance companies, Engineers and law enforcement all share the
same interest of finding a way to make driving a safer experience. Although they can’t
always prevent the accident from happening, insurance companies and law enforcement
always want to be prepared when accidents do occur in order to handle the situation as
quickly and smoothly as possible. Several smartphone apps for car accidents have been
developed within the last few years to help drivers who may be suffering from shock after
an accident to gather any information required by insurance companies and law
enforcement to process any claims and handle the incident

Automotive engineers have also introduced various solutions, such as hands-free systems
that enable drivers to control mobile functions via voice commands or steering wheel
controls. While hands-free systems cannot eliminate cognitive distraction, they are designed
to reduce physical interaction with devices. Advances in hands-free technology, such as
virtual assistants, continue to evolve to minimize distractions.

Conclusion

The evidence is clear: mobile phone use while driving poses a significant threat to
automotive safety, and addressing this issue requires a collaborative effort involving
legislation, technology, and engineering. Current research consistently shows that mobile
phone use—whether hand-held or hands-free—substantially increases accident risk,
delaying reaction times and contributing to the rising toll of traffic injuries and fatalities.

References

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2020). Traffic Safety

Facts.
University of Utah. (2006). Cell Phone Use and Driver Distraction Study.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). (2021). Distracted Driving Statistics.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. (2020). Understanding Driver Distractions.
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2020). The Cognitive Impact of Cell Phone Use
While Driving.
Beirness, D. J. (2002). The road safety monitor 2002. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Traffic
Injury Research Foundation
Sundeen, M. (2004, January 23). Cell phones and highway safety: 2003 state legislative
update. Retrieved October 2008, from National Conference of State Legislatures.
The Zebra insurance and statistical website
PublicHealthDegrees.org
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute
Distracted Driving | NHTSA
Distracted Driving | CDC
The Dangers of Distracted Driving | FCC
Digest of Motor laws | AAA
Distracted Driving | IIHS