Cellular Phones and Automobile Accidents

Although industry-sponsored surveys have found no increased risk of auto accidents associated with car telephone use, several countries have laws against using cellular phones while driving, and simulator trials indicate that some aspects of driving performance can be impaired by telephone use.

This study was conducted in Toronto, Canada, drawing from an urban population of approximately 3 million over a one-year time period. Of 5890 drivers approached by the investigators, 1064 reported having a cellular telephone, of which 742 were willing to participate in the study. On average, the group placed 3.4 calls per day and received 0.7 calls per day. The average duration of calls was 2.3 minutes.

Overall, 24% of the subjects had used a cellular telephone during the 10-minute interval immediately before the collision, producing at least a quadrupling of risk of motor vehicle collision. Age and experience with use of the telephone did not appear to significantly affect the results, nor did time of day the phone was used. The authors note that this increase in risk is similar to the hazard associated with driving with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit. The authors acknowledge that some public debate may be in order to optimize safe use of cellular phones.

Redelmeier D, Tibshirani R. N Engl J Med 1997;336:453-458.