Distracted Driving in New York State: A Status Report

1. 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 Research University at Albany, State University of New York Debra H. Rood, Director

2. Provisions of the • New York State Cell Phone Law • Effective Date: November 1, 2001 • 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 • Fine of up to $100 • DMV crash summary report to include type of driver inattention • Study of effects of cell phone use and other driver distractions on highway safety due by November 1, 2005

3. Study on Distracted Driving • Telephone Survey • Observational Survey • Analysis of Tickets • Analysis of Crash Records

4. 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)

5. Frequency of Having Cell Phone in Vehicle N=788 N=795

6. Frequency of Using Cell Phone While Driving N=447 N=544

7. 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 using a cell phone while driving? 13 minutes • How many outgoing calls do you make? 2 • How many incoming calls do you receive? 2

8. Cell Phones and Driving:Differences by Gender Frequency of Using Cell Phone While Driving

9. Cell Phones and Driving:Differences by Age Frequency of Using Cell Phone While Driving

10. Hands-Free Feature or Adapter for Cell Phone

11. Most Common Reason for UsingCell Phone While Driving N=384 N=350

12. Perceptions of Safety Problems Associated with Using a Cell Phone While Driving In your opinion, does using a cell phone affect a driver’s ability to drive safely… N=805 N=800

13. Perceptions of Safety ProblemsAssociated with Using a Cell Phone While Driving While driving, which part of using a cell phone is most likely to distract or take attention away from driving? N=800 N=805

14. Frequency of Engaging in Distracting Behaviors While Driving Fall 2001 Spring 2003

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

16. 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

17. Driver Distraction Observational Survey Spring 2002 & Spring 2003

18. Driver Distraction Observational SurveyType of Cell Phone Use Observed 2002: n = 1,160 2003: n = 965

19. 2003 Observation SurveyCell Phone Use While Driving: Differences by Gender (n=558) (n=401)

20. 2003 Observation SurveyCell Phone Use While Driving: Differences by Age

21. Driver Distraction Observational SurveyOther Distracted Driving Behaviors N/A n= 5,733 n= 6,040

22. 2003 Observation SurveyDistracted Driving: Differences by Gender n=2,827 n=3,184

23. 2003 Observation SurveyDistracted Driving: Differences by Age

24. 2003 Observation SurveyDistracted Driving: Differences by Vehicle Type

25. 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

26. 2003 Telephone Survey Perceived Probability of Receiving a Ticket For Using Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving

27. Cell Phone Tickets Issuedby Enforcement Agency (N=76,346) State Police NYPD Local Police (non-NYC) Sheriff/County

28. Drivers Issued Companion Tickets (N=6,371)

29. Outcome of Adjudication ProcessTickets Issued December 2001 – November 2002 (N=62,617)

30. Fines for Cell Phone Convictions

31. Cell Phone Tickets Issued byDriver Gender (N=30,979) Women Men

32. Cell Phone Tickets Issued:Drivers Ticketed vs. Licensed Drivers Driver Age (N=31,126)

33. Analysis of Fatal Crash RecordsJuly 2001 – December 2002(N=144) • Driver Inattention/Distraction • Cell Phone (hand-held) • Cell Phone (hands-free) • Other Electronic Device

34. Fatal Crashes Involving Driver Inattention/Distraction Driver Gender (N=144) Unknown Women Men

35. Drivers in Fatal Crashes Involving Driver Inattention/Distraction vs. Licensed Drivers Driver Age (N=136)

36. Type of Driver Distraction(n = 21)

38. Anne M. Dowling, Ph.D. Deputy Director Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research 80 Wolf Road, Suite 607 Albany, NY 12205 Phone: 518-453-0291 Fax: 518-453-0298 E-mail: adowling@itsmr.org