The Facts Don’t Matter!

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I have been ranting about the claims that talking on the phone while driving is dangerous- but talking to your fellow passengers is not.  That is such malarkey- since these actions all involve the same parts of our brain.  Now, texting while driving- that is very different.  Because the driver is NOT looking at the road, but at his/her cell phone…

And, now we have some real data.  The State of Michigan has found that the number of crashes involving cell phones is at a ten (10) year low. That’s right- read that again- The number of crashes that occurred while using one’s cell phone has dropped from 876 to 747.

Michigan Accident Statistics
mLive Media Group

But, does that mean the police and the regulators are convinced?  Of course not, since their mind is made up.  Kind of like those folks who claim that global warming is wrong- because they don’t like the data.  Or, as I reported earlier, how the claims that high debt loads (debt to GDP ratio) leads to negative growth.

Now, the number of other distracted driving accidents are pretty high- rising from 3826 in 2003 to 4407 last year.  What are considered distracted driving related crashes?  Any of these activities while one is supposed to be paying attention to the road (you ARE driving, right?):  Putting on makeup, grooming one’s hair, changing a radio station, talking to passengers (see above), or eating.

And, those last three items?   They’ve been allowed forever- and there hasn’t been an epidemic of accidents.  Nor are there epidemics from cell phone use.  With one major exception:  30% of all distracted driving accidents occurred with young drivers- aged 16 to 21.   This is why the Commonwealth of Virginia disallows all cell phone use for those under the age of 18.  (The Commonwealth also, wisely, limits the number of passengers that may be carried by these novice drivers, since it has been found that there are more accidents- due to distracted driving [and possibly because of “showing off”])    This one sector accounts for about 90% of all rear end collisions- 38% due to cell phones and 52% from all other distractions.

Age and Distracted Driving
mLive Media Group – Distracted Driving by Age

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2011 survey of 40,000 random drivers) found 5% of all drivers using hand—held cellphones, with 4% more using hands-free sets.  That means 9% of all drivers were using cell phones at any given moment- while driving- and which means that it’s a very small portion of them that are associated with accidents.  And, that is for all ages, not just the novice drivers.  (It does make perfect sense to disallow hand-held cell phone usage, but not hands-free.)

Moreover, using Michigan statistics again, some 240,000 accidents occurred due to “normal’ conditions.  In other words- due to poor road conditions, poor car conditions, or just plain stupid drivers.  Less than 20,000 were due to some impairment- with half of them (9663) due to driving under the influence, and 5162 distracted driving incidents.  Or- including the higher numbers for those young drivers- only 0.27% of all 275,000 accidents were related to cell phone use.

I know.  Let’s not let the facts inform our opinions.  Instead, let’s just spew disinformation…

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5 thoughts on “The Facts Don’t Matter!”

  1. I have a funny graphic I shall post or send to you Roy.

    One that will speak to my comment on this blog, and I think you’ll enjoy it.

    Great post, one of the reasons why I admire you. Not prone to the emotionalism but making informed choice via facts.

  2. Wow. That is so not what people are saying. I still think even hands free cell calls could be dangerous, at least for me. I even have trouble with one person talking to me in the car. No, I am not ready to give up the keys. I just have to tell people to be quiet.

    1. I have been going at this concept for nigh two years now, Ann. I only had logic (why would talking on the phone- hands free) be any different that talking with one’s passengers or singing along with the radio)- but, now, the data is irrefutable. (And, it’s not just Michigan…the other states are showing the same results.)

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