Andrew Schrauben

When running on roads I wave to passing drivers, especially if they give me a little extra space on the shoulder.  It shows my appreciation for their efforts to put me more at ease, but I also want to remind them that runners and cyclists are people and by waving, it likewise conveys that I recognize them as people even though they're in a vehicle.  My hope is that by seeing each other not as competing "motor vehicles" vs. "pedestrians" but as two friendly folks crossing paths, that they will be more aware and respectful of the risks they're responsible for when driving. 

While most drivers do wave back to me and smile, many of them do not wave.  Why?  They're holding a steering wheel in one hand and a cell phone in the other.  It's not a physical problem of having both hands full that causes them to not return my friendly gesture - they don't even notice me!  I've observed that drivers on cell phones just stare straight ahead and zoom right on by without even a glance, and without giving me extra clearance despite a clear view on a wide, empty road. 

Studies of cell phone usage while driving have confirmed my observations that such behavior causes visual fixation, reducing peripheral vision and overall situational awareness.  On July 1st, California and Washington will join New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as the states that have enacted laws banning in-hand cell phone usage while driving.  Will these laws improve roadway safety?

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it best in a report on a commercial bus accident (PDF) where a too-tall bus collided with a too-low bridge caused by "the bus driver’s failure to notice and respond to posted low-clearance warning signs and to the bridge itself due to cognitive distraction resulting from conversing on a hands-free cellular telephone while driving." [emphasis mine] While this is just one accident, NTSB investigations are very thorough and they did some digging.  In the report (page 16 for reference) the NTSB cited some cell phone studies and summarized the most critical results:

-- Using a hands-free cell phone is just as risky as using an in-hand cell phone.
-- The risk of a crash increases 30% when simply talking on a cell phone.
-- The risk of a crash TRIPLES when actively dialing a number.
-- The risk of an injury accident QUADRUPLES when using a cell phone.

Critics of the new cell phone laws, however, can point out a couple failings in these measures.  Washington's law is only a "secondary" offense, meaning that the police can't pull you over for talking on the phone - all they can do is give you an extra ticket if you were on the phone when being cited for a "primary" offense such as speeding.  Looking at the below graph of Michigan's historical safety belt use shows the benefits of secondary vs. primary enforcement.  Michigan enacted a secondary seatbelt law in 1985, and upgraded it to a primary offense in 2000.  I imagine that the impact to cell phone use would be similar.


California's law is indeed a primary offense, but insanely does not apply to text messaging except for teenagers.  Texting is certainly more distracting than talking and I find it baffling that the lawmakers didn't include such a provision for adults.  Perhaps those very lawmakers want to continue using their Blackberries while on the road?  I hope not.  Considering that 89% of Americans actually want a ban and evidence that a crash is SIX TIMES as likely while texting, there's no excuse for any state to not outlaw text messaging while driving as a primary offense.

It was after reading the NTSB report over a year ago that I stopped using my cell phone in the car - a 30% risk increase just isn't worth it.  Several more studies lay clear the dangers of driving while "in-talks-icated".  In fact, that drinking-related pun is chillingly appropriate - one study found that cell-phone drivers exhibited greater impairment than intoxicated drivers (PDF).  Perhaps the penalties for using a wireless device while driving should be on par with the penalties for drunk driving, too.

Overall the new laws will improve safety for drivers, runners, cyclists, and anyone else on the roads.  Just like the seatbelt laws helped promote overall safety awareness and voluntary comlpliance, so too could primary regulations that ban the use of wireless devices while driving.  It's unfortunate that these early laws are full of holes even before going into effect, but something is better than nothing.  So I plead to Michigan and the other 44 states without meaningful cell phone laws, "what the h3ll r u w8ing 4?"  Hopefully you aren't reading this while behind the wheel...