Distracted Driving in New York State: A Status Report Presentation at 29 th 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

Provisions of the New York State Cell Phone Law Effective Date: November 1, 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 2.Fine of up to $100 3.DMV crash summary report to include type of driver inattention 4.Study of effects of cell phone use and other driver distractions on highway safety due by November 1, 2005

Study on Distracted Driving ► Telephone Survey ► Observational Survey ► Analysis of Tickets ► Analysis of Crash Records

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)

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

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

2003 Telephone Survey Drivers 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

Cell Phones and Driving: Differences by Gender MENWOMEN 2001 (n=206) 2003 (n=263) 2001 (n=241) 2003 (n=281) Very Often/Sometimes39.3%39.2%25.7%23.9% Once in awhile30.6%33.1%37.8%35.2% Never30.1%27.8%36.5%40.9% Frequency of Using Cell Phone While Driving

Cell Phones and Driving: Differences by Age (n=144) 2003 (n=143) 2001 (n=131) 2003 (n=130) 2001 (n=104) 2003 (n=129) 2001 (n=96) 2003 (n=138) Very Often/Sometimes45.6%50.3%36.6%31.5%24.0%28.7%18.8%13.0% Once in awhile35.1%29.4%36.7%43.8%41.4%34.1%22.9%30.4% Never19.3%20.3%26.7%24.6%34.6%37.2%58.3%56.5% Frequency of Using Cell Phone While Driving

Hands-Free Feature or Adapter for Cell Phone Fall 2001 (n=388) Spring 2003 (n=542) Do you have a hands-free feature or adapter for your cell phone? % Yes No If yes, when using a cell phone while driving, how often do you use the hands-free feature? (n=193) % (n=331) % Always Most of the time Sometimes Never

Most Common Reason for Using Cell Phone While Driving N=384 N=350

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

Perceptions of Safety Problems Associated 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=805 N=800

Frequency of Engaging in Distracting Behaviors While Driving N=800 % N=800 % Very often… Change radio, CDs or tapes Adjust heat/air conditioning Eat or drink something Daydream Use a cell phone Deal with child’s need or problem Talk with passengersN/A41.6 Fall 2001 Spring 2003

Distracted Driving and Crash Experience Due to Driver’s Own Behavior Spring 2002 N=798 Spring 2003 N=800 Have you ever had an accident because you were distracted or your attention was taken away from driving? % Yes No Don’t Know

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

Driver Distraction Observational Survey Spring 2002 & Spring 2003 Spring 2002Spring 2003 Drivers Observed39,04233,180 Drivers Using Cell Phone Number 1, Percent of total 3.0% 2.9% Drivers Engaged in Other Distracted Driving Behaviors Number 5,733 6,040 Percent of total14.7%18.2%

Driver Distraction Observational Survey Type of Cell Phone Use Observed 2002: n = 1, : n = 965

2003 Observation Survey Cell Phone Use While Driving: Differences by Gender (n=401) (n=558)

2003 Observation Survey Cell Phone Use While Driving: Differences by Age (n=199) (n=411) (n=308) 60+ (n=45) Dialing14%11%9% Hands-free9%21%17%7% Held to ear77%68%74%84%

Driver Distraction Observational Survey Other Distracted Driving Behaviors N/A n= 5,733 n= 6,040

2003 Observation Survey Distracted Driving: Differences by Gender n=2,827n=3,184

2003 Observation Survey Distracted Driving: Differences by Age (n=1,031) (n=2,224) (n=1,889) 60+ (n=887) Vehicle controls8% 9%7% Attending to child4%7% 5% Driver talking to passenger25%26%27%41% Eating/drinking21%20%19%14% Reading/writing6% 7%6% Self-grooming9%12%9%8% Smoking25%22% 21%

2003 Observation Survey Distracted Driving: Differences by Vehicle Type Car (n=3,319) SUV (n=811) Van (n=918) Pick-up (n=955) Vehicle controls8%10%6%9% Attending to child5%7%17%6% Driver talking to passenger29%32%27%23% Eating/drinking19%24%19%17% Reading/writing7% 3% Self-grooming11%12%11%5% Smoking22%23%18%28%

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

2003 Telephone Survey Every time (N=800) 35% Almost every time24% Once in awhile28% Never6% Don’t know8% Perceived Probability of Receiving a Ticket For Using Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving

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

Drivers Issued Companion Tickets (N=6,371)

Outcome of Adjudication Process Tickets Issued December 2001 – November 2002 (N=62,617)

Fines for Cell Phone Convictions Amount of FineDrivers Convicted (N=50,612) $0 7.0% $ % $ % $ % $ % >$ %

Cell Phone Tickets Issued by Driver Gender (N=30,979) Women Men

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

(N=144) Analysis of Fatal Crash Records July 2001 – December 2002 (N=144) ► Driver Inattention/Distraction ► Cell Phone (hand-held) ► Cell Phone (hands-free) ► Other Electronic Device

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

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

Type of Driver Distraction (n = 21) n Looking elsewhere5 Adjusting car controls4 Talking, arguing/dealing with passenger/child3 Reaching for object3 Cell phone2 Other4

Anne M. Dowling, Ph.D. Deputy Director Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research 80 Wolf Road, Suite 607 Albany, NY Phone: Fax: