Phone Use While Driving
The Danger Is Real
- Phone use while driving significantly increases crash risk[1]
- Distraction impairs performance throughout entire driving process[2]
- Hands-free is not safe — the distraction is cognitive, not just physical
Why People Do It Anyway
- Drivers use compensatory beliefs to justify phone use[3]
- "I'm a good driver"
- "It's just a quick text"
- "I only do it at traffic lights"
- All of these are rationalisations, not facts
The Reality
- Reaction timeⓘ
- Texting makes you 23x more likely to crash
- Even talking hands-free increases crash risk 4x
- Voice-to-text is no safer than manual texting
Speed
Speed and Crash Risk
- Higher speeds are associated with more severe crashes[5]
- Stopping distance increases exponentially with speed
- A 10% increase in speed roughly doubles crash riskⓘ
- Impact force quadruples when speed doubles
The Numbers
- At 50 km/h, stopping distance is about 28 metres
- At 70 km/h, stopping distance is about 50 metres
- At 100 km/h, stopping distance is about 97 metres
- Stopping distanceⓘ
Speed Limits Exist for Reasons
- Set based on road design, visibility, pedestrian presence
- "I'm a careful driver" doesn't change physics
- Speed cameras and enforcement reduce crashes
Following Distance
The 2-3 Second Rule
- Safe following distance varies with driving style[8]
- Minimum 2 seconds in good conditions
- 4+ seconds in rain, at night, or following trucks
- Headwayⓘ
Why People Tailgate
- Impatience and frustration
- Not realizing how long stopping takes
- Habit from driving in congested traffic
- All increase crash risk significantly
Rear-End Collisions
- Most common type of crash
- Almost always preventable with adequate following distance
- The car in front can stop instantly (crash, obstacle)
- You need time to react AND brake
Fatigue
Drowsy Driving Is Impaired Driving
- Sleep loss significantly impairs young drivers[10]
- Many drivers underestimate drowsiness risks[11]
- 18 hours without sleep ≈ 0.05% BAC; 24 hours ≈ 0.10% BACⓘ
Warning Signs
- Frequent yawning
- Heavy eyelids
- Drifting from lane
- Missing signs or exits
- Difficulty remembering last few miles
What Helps
- Stop and nap (even 15-20 minutes helps)
- Caffeine (takes 20-30 minutes to work)
- Share driving on long trips
- Don't drive at times you'd normally be asleep
- Microsleepⓘ
Seatbelts
Effectiveness
- Seatbelts significantly reduce facial fractures and head injuries[14]
- Rear seat passengers benefit too[15]
- Reduce death risk by about 45%ⓘ
- Reduce serious injury risk by about 50%ⓘ
Common Excuses
- "I'm just going a short distance" — most crashes occur close to home
- "The airbag will protect me" — airbags work with seatbelts, not instead of them
- "It's uncomfortable" — less uncomfortable than going through windscreen
- "I might get trapped" — extremely rareⓘ
Proper Use
- Lap belt low across hips, not stomach
- Shoulder belt across chest, not neck
- No slack in the belt
- Never put shoulder belt behind you or under arm
Risk Factors
Age Matters
- Different crash risk factors by age group[19]
- Young drivers: speed, inexperience, overconfidence
- Middle-aged drivers: distractions, complacency
- Older drivers: slower reactions, vision issues, medical events
Weather and Conditions
- Rain increases crash risk significantly (especially first rain after dry spell)
- Night driving is 3x more dangerous per mile than daytime
- Rural roads are more dangerous than urban (higher speeds, longer emergency response)
- Intersections are high-risk zones
Other Drivers
- You can't control others, only yourself
- Defensive driving assumes others will make mistakes
- Keep escape routes in mind
- Stay out of blind spots
Common Myths
Myth: Hands-free phone use is safe
Reality: The cognitive distraction is the main problem. Your brain can't fully focus on driving while having a conversation.
Reality: The cognitive distraction is the main problem. Your brain can't fully focus on driving while having a conversation.
Myth: Experienced drivers don't need to be as careful
Reality: Overconfidence is a major risk factor. Complacency leads to less attention, and most crashes involve experienced drivers.
Reality: Overconfidence is a major risk factor. Complacency leads to less attention, and most crashes involve experienced drivers.
Myth: I'm a better driver when I've had a bit to drink
Reality: Alcohol impairs judgment, including self-assessment. Even small amounts slow reaction time.
Reality: Alcohol impairs judgment, including self-assessment. Even small amounts slow reaction time.
Myth: If you're about to crash, throw yourself across the car
Reality: Bracing and staying in position is safer. Your seatbelt keeps you in position for the airbag.
Reality: Bracing and staying in position is safer. Your seatbelt keeps you in position for the airbag.
Practical Tips
Before Driving
- Ensure you're well-rested
- Put phone on Do Not Disturb or out of reach
- Adjust mirrors, seat, and climate controls
- Plan your route
While Driving
- Maintain safe following distance (2-3 seconds minimum)
- Scan mirrors regularly (every 5-8 seconds)
- Anticipate what others might do
- Leave yourself escape routes
If You Make a Mistake
- Don't panic or overcorrect
- Brake firmly in a straight line if possible
- If you miss a turn, keep going and turn around safely
- Accept that arriving late is better than not arriving
---
References
- Oviedo-Trespalacios O, et al. (2017). Risk factors of mobile phone use while driving in Queensland: Prevalence, attitudes, crash risk perception, and task-Loss of Control. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- Zhang L, et al. (2024). Analysis of the distraction impact on driving performance across driving stages. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- White KM, et al. (2016). Why Do Drivers Use Mobile Phones While Driving? The Contribution of Compensatory Beliefs. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- Afghari AP, et al. (2023). Investigating speed-safety association: Considering the unobserved heterogeneity and endogeneity issues. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- Feng F, et al. (2017). Trade-off between jerk and time headway as an indicator of driving style. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- Bougard C, et al. (2017). The effects of sleep loss on young drivers' performance: A systematic review. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- Watling CN, et al. (2022). Psychometric properties of the Attitudes and Beliefs about Sleepy Driving Scale. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- Almasri M, et al. (2024). Study to determine the impact of seatbelt on Maxillofacial bone fractures and head injuries. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- Bao J, et al. (2017). Elderly road collision injury outcomes associated with seat positions and seatbelt use. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- Kim S, et al. (2024). Comparing fatal crash risk factors by age and crash type by using machine learning methods. PLOS ONE. [DOI]