Distracted Driving in New York State: A Status Report

Distracted Driving inNew York State: A Status Report

Presentation at 29th International Forum on

Traffic Records and Highway Information Systems

Denver, Colorado

July 14, 2003

Anne M. Dowling, Ph.D.

Institute for Traffic Safety Management and ResearchUniversity at Albany, State University of New York

Debra H. Rood, Director

Provisions of theNew York State Cell Phone Law

Effective Date: November 1, 2001

1. No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon a public highway while using a mobile telephone to engage in a call while such vehicle is in motion.

Exceptions:

A) Emergency situation

B) Performing official duties

C) Use of hands-free telephone

2. Fine of up to $100

3. DMV crash summary report to include type of driver inattention

4. Study of effects of cell phone use and other driver distractions on highway safety due by November 1, 2005

Study on Distracted Driving

►Telephone Survey

►Observational Survey

►Analysis of Tickets

►Analysis of Crash Records

Telephone Survey

Objectives: Collect information on cell phone use and attitudes related to the

cell phone law Identify most frequent sources of distracted driving Examine differences in sources of distracted driver characteristics

(e.g., age, gender) Examine changes in cell phone use and distracted driving over

time

Survey Population: New York State Licensed Drivers

Dates: Fall 2001 (pre-law)Spring 2003 (post-law)

Frequency of Having Cell Phone in Vehicle

38.1

7.611.0

43.348.7

10.9 8.8

31.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Always Most of the time Sometimes Never

Per

cen

t

Fall 2001 Spring 2003N=788 N=795

Frequency of Using Cell Phone While Driving

12.3

19.7

34.4 33.6

11.4

19.8

34.2 34.6

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Very Often Sometimes Once in a While Never

Per

cen

t

Fall 2001 Spring 2003

N=447 N=544

2003 Telephone SurveyDrivers Who Use Cell Phones While Driving

(N=359)

On a typical day, Average

How much time do you spend driving? 108 minutes

How much time do you spend usinga cell phone while driving? 13 minutes

How many outgoing calls do you make? 2

How many incoming calls do you receive? 2

Cell Phones and Driving:Differences by Gender

MEN WOMEN

2001(n=206)

2003(n=263)

2001(n=241)

2003

(n=281)

Very Often/Sometimes 39.3% 39.2% 25.7% 23.9%

Once in awhile 30.6% 33.1% 37.8% 35.2%

Never 30.1% 27.8% 36.5% 40.9%


Cell Phones and Driving:Differences by Age

16-34 35-44 45-54 55+

2001

(n=144)

2003

(n=143)

2001

(n=131)

2003

(n=130)

2001

(n=104)

2003

(n=129)

2001

(n=96)

2003

(n=138)

Very Often/Sometimes 45.6% 50.3% 36.6% 31.5% 24.0% 28.7% 18.8% 13.0%

Once in awhile 35.1% 29.4% 36.7% 43.8% 41.4% 34.1% 22.9% 30.4%

Never 19.3% 20.3% 26.7% 24.6% 34.6% 37.2% 58.3% 56.5%


Hands-Free Feature or Adapter for Cell Phone

Fall

2001(n=388)

Spring

2003(n=542)

Do you have a hands-free feature or adapter

for your cell phone?

% %

Yes 49.7 63.7

No 50.3 36.3

If yes, when using a cell phone while driving,

how often do you use the hands-free feature?

(n=193)

%

(n=331)

%

Always 49.7 48.0

Most of the time 14.0 23.3

Sometimes 22.8 11.5

Never 13.5 17.2

Most Common Reason for UsingCell Phone While Driving

46.6

7.7

4.0

23.2

8.6

2.1

24.5

34.3

7.35.1

10.3

26.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

Family Matters Business ReportEmergencies

CasualConversations

Make/ChangeAppointments

Other

Per

cent

Fall 2001 Spring 2003N=384 N=350

Perceptions of Safety Problems Associated with Using a Cell Phone While Driving

63.9

31.2

3.0 1.9

56.5

35.5

5.52.5

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

A great deal Somewhat Not at all Don't know

Per

cen

t


In your opinion, does using a cell phone affect a driver’s ability to drive safely…

N=805 N=800

Perceptions of Safety ProblemsAssociated with Using a Cell Phone While Driving

13.2

58.8

7.8

20.2

6.5

13.0

58.4

21.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Having aConversation

Dialing AnsweringIncoming

Calls

Don't Know

Per

cen

t


While driving, which part of using a cell phone is most likely to distract or take attention away from driving?

N=805 N=800

Frequency of Engaging in Distracting Behaviors While Driving

N=800%

N=800%

Very often…

Change radio, CDs or tapes 24.9 19.6Adjust heat/air conditioning 17.6 12.1

Eat or drink something 12.4 13.2

Daydream 8.8 6.8

Use a cell phone 7.0 12.9

Deal with child’s need or problem 5.3 8.3

Talk with passengers N/A 41.6


Distracted Driving and Crash Experience Due to Driver’s Own Behavior

Spring

2002

N=798

Spring

2003

N=800

Have you ever had an accident because you

were distracted or your attention was taken

away from driving? % %

Yes 11.7 11.6

No 87.6 88.1

Don’t Know 0.7 0.3

Observational Survey

Objectives:► Identify proportion of drivers using hand-held cell phones

► Identify other distracted driving behaviors drivers engage in

Method:► Observational survey (conducted in conjunction with New York’s annual seat belt survey)

► 200 sites in 20 counties

Survey Population: Drivers of passenger cars, minivans, vans, sport utility vehicles, and pickup trucks

Dates: Spring 2002, 2003, 2004

Driver Distraction Observational Survey Spring 2002 & Spring 2003

Spring 2002 Spring 2003

Drivers Observed 39,042 33,180

Drivers Using Cell Phone

Number 1,160 965

Percent of total 3.0% 2.9%

Drivers Engaged in Other Distracted

Driving Behaviors

Number 5,733 6,040

Percent of total 14.7% 18.2%

Driver Distraction Observational SurveyType of Cell Phone Use Observed

2002: n = 1,160 2003: n = 965

67%

11%

22%

72%

11%17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Held to Ear Dialing Hands-Free

2002 2003

2003 Observation SurveyCell Phone Use While Driving:

Differences by Gender

11% 13%

76%

11%

20%

69%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Dialing Hands-free Held to ear

Women Men(n=401) (n=558)

2003 Observation SurveyCell Phone Use While Driving:

Differences by Age16-24

(n=199)

25-39

(n=411)

40-59

(n=308)

60+

(n=45)

Dialing 14% 11% 9% 9%

Hands-free 9% 21% 17% 7%

Held to ear 77% 68% 74% 84%

Driver Distraction Observational SurveyOther Distracted Driving Behaviors

13%

7%

4%

26%

35%

5% 6%

23%

28%

19%

8%10%

6%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Smoking Talking toPassenger

Eating/Drinking VehicleControls

Self-grooming Reading/Writing

Attending toChild

2002 2003

N/A

n= 5,733 n= 6,040

2003 Observation SurveyDistracted Driving: Differences by Gender

22%

26%

13%

6%

23%

20%

9%7% 7%

3%

7%

18%

10%

31%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Smoking Talking topassenger

Eating/Drinking

VehicleControls

Self-grooming

Reading/Writing

Attending toChild

Women Menn=2,827 n=3,184

2003 Observation SurveyDistracted Driving: Differences by Age

16-24

(n=1,031)

25-39

(n=2,224)

40-59

(n=1,889)

60+

(n=887)

Vehicle controls 8% 8% 9% 7%

Attending to child 4% 7% 7% 5%

Driver talking to passenger 25% 26% 27% 41%

Eating/drinking 21% 20% 19% 14%

Reading/writing 6% 6% 7% 6%

Self-grooming 9% 12% 9% 8%

Smoking 25% 22% 22% 21%

2003 Observation SurveyDistracted Driving: Differences by Vehicle Type

Car

(n=3,319)

SUV

(n=811)

Van

(n=918)

Pick-up

(n=955)

Vehicle controls 8% 10% 6% 9%

Attending to child 5% 7% 17% 6%

Driver talking to passenger 29% 32% 27% 23%

Eating/drinking 19% 24% 19% 17%

Reading/writing 7% 7% 7% 3%

Self-grooming 11% 12% 11% 5%

Smoking 22% 23% 18% 28%

Analysis of Tickets Issued for Non-Compliance with the Cell Phone Law

December 2001 – November 2002(N=76,346)

►Characteristics of Drivers Ticketed

►Characteristics of Arrest Event

►Outcome of Adjudication Process

2003 Telephone Survey

Every time

(N=800)35%

Almost every time 24%

Once in awhile 28%

Never 6%

Don’t know 8%

Perceived Probability of Receiving a Ticket

For Using Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving

Cell Phone Tickets Issuedby Enforcement Agency

47%

9%

31%

13%

(N=76,346)

NYPD State Police

Sheriff/County

Local Police(non-NYC)

Drivers Issued Companion Tickets

44%

23%

9%

4%

12%15%

17%

12%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Speed Alcohol Seatbelt Inspection Insurance License AUO Other

(N=6,371)

Outcome of Adjudication ProcessTickets Issued December 2001 – November 2002

8%3%

87%

2%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Dismissed Acquitted Convicted asCharged

Convicted onDifferentCharge

(N=62,617)

Fines for Cell Phone Convictions

Amount of Fine Drivers Convicted(N=50,612)

$0 7.0%

$1-25 4.6%

$26-50 14.4%

$51-75 63.8%

$76-100 8.3%

>$100 1.9%

Cell Phone Tickets Issued byDriver Gender

65%

35%

(N=30,979)

Women

Men

Cell Phone Tickets Issued:Drivers Ticketed vs. Licensed Drivers

Driver Age

23%

16%

20%

3%

10%10%

13%

28%

13%

22%22%

9%

6%5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

16-20 21-24 25-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60 +

Drivers Ticketed Licensed Drivers

(N=31,126)

Analysis of Fatal Crash RecordsJuly 2001 – December 2002

(N=144)(N=144)

►Driver Inattention/Distraction

►Cell Phone (hand-held)

►Cell Phone (hands-free)

►Other Electronic Device

Fatal Crashes Involving Driver Inattention/Distraction

Driver Gender

6%

66%

28%

(N=144)

Men

UnknownWomen

Drivers in Fatal Crashes Involving Driver Inattention/Distraction vs. Licensed Drivers

Driver Age

(N=136)

19%

10%

14%15% 15%

10%

16%

5%6%

9%

22% 22%

16%

20%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

15-20 21-24 25-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60 +

Distracted Drivers in Fatal Crashes Licensed Drivers

Type of Driver Distraction(n = 21)

n

Looking elsewhere 5

Adjusting car controls 4

Talking, arguing/dealing with passenger/child 3

Reaching for object 3

Cell phone 2

Other 4

Anne M. Dowling, Ph.D.

Deputy DirectorDeputy Director

Institute for Traffic Safety Management and ResearchInstitute for Traffic Safety Management and Research

80 Wolf Road, Suite 60780 Wolf Road, Suite 607

Albany, NY 12205Albany, NY 12205

Phone: 518-453-0291Phone: 518-453-0291

Fax: 518-453-0298Fax: 518-453-0298

E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]

Documents

Distracted Driving in New York State: A Status Report