5 ms·

Driven to distraction

10 points by yan 17y ago

roc 17y ago
RE: the US/UK difference in fatality rates -- Demographics is everything: young people cause the most crashes and not nearly as many young people in Europe can afford to own and drive cars. Control for age and fatalities per million vehicle miles balance out in the other age brackets. The only real 'solution' to distracted driving is to start building an America where we don't have to drive everywhere. Get people out from behind the wheel. Cars are inherently dangerous and Americans are forced to use them far, far too often.
- ableal 17y ago
  Get people out from behind the wheel. You'll probably get this. In another couple of decades, it may be illegal to drive manually on public roads ...
- stcredzero 17y ago
  Tougher enforcement would work. There's an inherent record of the crime, after all. A few teens would be caught texting while driving after car crashes. Make a few into examples, and you'll curtail this. Especially if there are some cool alternatives. (A voice command texting app for the iPhone? Say one that sends a ETA? Perhaps answers yes, no, or tldr;)
jacoblyles 17y ago
Personally, I'm willing to take a fractional increase in a small chance of death for the convenience of my sister being able to call me to tell me her car broke down in another part of the city while I'm on the road. I realize some people use their phones for trivial matters while driving, but almost every phone call I give or take is brief and with a purpose (someone calling me on the way to an appointment to let me know they are not going to be there, for example). I realize that there are two parties in the interaction, myself and the other drivers I may effect should I get into an accident. But were the effects of an accident limited solely to me, I am sure that the utility I get from being able to coordinate with others while on the road is greater than the cost of a marginal increase in the chance of an accident.
- mmc 17y ago
  "But were the effects of an accident limited solely to me, I am sure that the utility I get from being able to coordinate with others while on the road is greater than the cost of a marginal increase in the chance of an accident." Are you sure? The study the article cites (see http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2009&itemno=571 http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2009&itemno=5... ) says that for light cars (trucks are worse), the risk of crashing is 1.3 (1.4, 2.8) times higher for talking on (reaching for, dialing) a cell phone. I'd say that increase in risk is significant, especially because the potential cost of an accident, even if you don't involve anyone else, is so high. Sitting here thinking about it, I'd rather miss a call. (EDIT, the study actually said crash or near-crash event. Not sure how to process that.)
  - jacoblyles 17y ago
    Yes, I'm quite sure. We're talking about 40,000 annual events among a population of 300 million. I don't mind doubling my risk there especially considering that I'm probably a better driver than most to start with, passing the most dangerous decade of driving with no accidents.

10 points by yan 17y ago

roc 17y ago

RE: the US/UK difference in fatality rates -- Demographics is everything: young people cause the most crashes and not nearly as many young people in Europe can afford to own and drive cars. Control for age and fatalities per million vehicle miles balance out in the other age brackets. The only real 'solution' to distracted driving is to start building an America where we don't have to drive everywhere. Get people out from behind the wheel. Cars are inherently dangerous and Americans are forced to use them far, far too often.

ableal 17y ago
Get people out from behind the wheel. You'll probably get this. In another couple of decades, it may be illegal to drive manually on public roads ...
stcredzero 17y ago
Tougher enforcement would work. There's an inherent record of the crime, after all. A few teens would be caught texting while driving after car crashes. Make a few into examples, and you'll curtail this. Especially if there are some cool alternatives. (A voice command texting app for the iPhone? Say one that sends a ETA? Perhaps answers yes, no, or tldr;)

jacoblyles 17y ago

Personally, I'm willing to take a fractional increase in a small chance of death for the convenience of my sister being able to call me to tell me her car broke down in another part of the city while I'm on the road. I realize some people use their phones for trivial matters while driving, but almost every phone call I give or take is brief and with a purpose (someone calling me on the way to an appointment to let me know they are not going to be there, for example). I realize that there are two parties in the interaction, myself and the other drivers I may effect should I get into an accident. But were the effects of an accident limited solely to me, I am sure that the utility I get from being able to coordinate with others while on the road is greater than the cost of a marginal increase in the chance of an accident.

mmc 17y ago
"But were the effects of an accident limited solely to me, I am sure that the utility I get from being able to coordinate with others while on the road is greater than the cost of a marginal increase in the chance of an accident." Are you sure? The study the article cites (see http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2009&itemno=571 http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2009&itemno=5... ) says that for light cars (trucks are worse), the risk of crashing is 1.3 (1.4, 2.8) times higher for talking on (reaching for, dialing) a cell phone. I'd say that increase in risk is significant, especially because the potential cost of an accident, even if you don't involve anyone else, is so high. Sitting here thinking about it, I'd rather miss a call. (EDIT, the study actually said crash or near-crash event. Not sure how to process that.)
- jacoblyles 17y ago
  Yes, I'm quite sure. We're talking about 40,000 annual events among a population of 300 million. I don't mind doubling my risk there especially considering that I'm probably a better driver than most to start with, passing the most dangerous decade of driving with no accidents.