- 08
- July
2011
Now, on top of causing distractions from talking and texting, smartphones are also taking young drivers' minds off the road with apps. As cell phone technology advances, the temptation to use phones while driving only seems to grow. Mobile phone applications are now the latest, and likely most serious, distraction for teen drivers.
A study from the University of Alabama reveled that ten percent of students admit to using mobile phone apps while driving "often" or "nearly always". Over a third of students admit to "sometimes" using apps while driving.
Some phone apps help with driver navigation, but majority are geared towards entertainment and socializing. Therefore the use of apps is almost never urgent, and generally avoidable, as long as the driver makes a point to not drive distracted.
Lauren McCartney, who conducted research for the study, explained what surprised her most: "What really stood out was the number of participants who verbally reported understanding that using mobile internet while driving was dangerous, but continued to do it." Ten percent of those students surveyed experienced motor vehicle accidents in the past three years at least partially caused by distracted driving.
The degree of distraction posed by apps is likely even greater than talking or texting because of the required cognitive effort, and the greater amount of time drivers take their eyes off the road.
Nationwide 74.6 million people owned smartphones during the three month period ending in April 2011, according to the research firm Comscore. This is up 13 percent from the previous period ending in January 2011.
As smartphone ownership proliferates and technology continues to advance, driver distraction will likely continue to increase. All drivers should make a conscious effort to avoid distracted driving and keep their hands on the wheel and mind on the road.
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