Teenage drivers who use their mobile phones while driving are significantly more likely to engage in risky driving behaviours such as hard braking and rapid acceleration, a US study reveals.
The researchers used a smartphone telematics application to track the driving habits of 119 teenage drivers over a period of 60 days. The drivers had been licensed for less than one year.
The researchers analysed data on trip characteristics, speeding, handheld cellphone use, and risky driving events.
The study found that more than one-third of trips had both handheld phone and speeding occurring in more than 40% of the trip.
Handheld mobile use and speeding was also associated with kinematic risky driving events (hard braking and rapid acceleration).
“This study provides further evidence of the dangers of handheld mobile phone use while driving,” says lead-author Catherine C. McDonald, PhD, at University of Pennsylvania.
“Smartphone telematics applications provide a valuable tool for studying driving behaviour and for developing interventions to improve safety.
“By identifying risky behaviours, we can develop targeted interventions to help teens become safer drivers,” says McDonald.
The researchers recommend that teenagers and their parents develop strategies to avoid using phones while driving, such as putting their phones out of reach or using hands-free devices.
They also encourage that parents talk to their teenagers about the dangers of distracted driving and to set a good example by avoiding cellphone use while driving themselves.
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