National Safety Council appeals to emotions
July 8, 2009 by Jayvee Fernandez
Filed under Multimedia
The “Death by Cellphone” series is heartbreaking. Accidents caused by driving while using a cellphone is a no brainer yet people still do it. I guess the emotional trauma is abstract to those who do not understand the loss of a loved one due to bring a victim of mobile phone carelessness. The Distracted Driving site aims to spread the awareness of cellphone hazards while driving, showcasing stories from the family members of car accident victims due to mobile phone distraction.
The fact sheet actually says it all. Here is an excerpt:
# Using cell phones while driving is a very high risk behavior with significant impact on crashes and society. More than 50 peer-reviewed scientific studies have identified the risks associated with cell phone use while driving.
# Drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in a crash while using a cell phone. (1997 New England Journal of Medicine examination of hospital records and 2005 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study linking crashes to cell phone records).
# There is no difference in the cognitive distraction between hand-held and hands-free devices. (Simulator studies at the U. of Utah.)
# Cell phone use contributes to an estimated 6 percent of all crashes, which equates to 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries and 2,600 deaths each year. (Harvard Center of Risk Analysis).
[image c/o Distracted Driving]
