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Cellular phones and traffic accidents: an epidemiological approach.

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Violanti JM, Marshall JR · 1996

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Talking on cell phones while driving for just 50 minutes per month increased accident risk by 459%.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers compared 100 drivers who had been in car accidents to 100 accident-free drivers to see if cell phone use while driving increased crash risk. They found that drivers who talked on their phones for more than 50 minutes per month while driving had a 5.59 times higher risk of being in an accident. This was one of the first studies to quantify the connection between mobile phone use and traffic safety.

Why This Matters

This 1996 study represents a pivotal moment in our understanding of wireless technology's real-world impacts. Published when cell phones were still relatively uncommon, it provided early quantitative evidence that these devices pose measurable safety risks through cognitive distraction, not just potential biological effects. The 5.59-fold increase in accident risk for moderate phone use (just 50 minutes monthly) demonstrates how even limited exposure to wireless technology can have serious consequences. What makes this research particularly significant is that it emerged from traffic safety research rather than health studies, yet it identified a clear dose-response relationship between wireless device use and harm. The reality is that this study foreshadowed what we now know about wireless technology's capacity to impair human performance and judgment, effects that extend far beyond the driving context into our daily lives.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

This study examined the association of cellular phone use in motor vehicles and traffic accident risk.

The amount of time per month spent talking on a cellular phone and 18 other driver inattention facto...

We hypothesized that increased use of cellular phones while driving was associated with increased od...

Readers should be cautioned that this study: (1) consists of a small sample, (2) reveals statistical associations and not causal relationships, and (3) does not conclude that talking on cellular phones while driving is inherently dangerous.

Cite This Study
Violanti JM, Marshall JR (1996). Cellular phones and traffic accidents: an epidemiological approach. Accid Anal Prev 28(2):265-270, 1996.
Show BibTeX
@article{jm_1996_cellular_phones_and_traffic_2663,
  author = {Violanti JM and Marshall JR},
  title = {Cellular phones and traffic accidents: an epidemiological approach.},
  year = {1996},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8703284/#:~:text=Results%20indicated%20that%20talking%20more,with%20increased%20traffic%20accident%20risk.},
}
PubMed: 8703284

Cited By (272 papers)

View all 272 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 1996 study found drivers who used cell phones for more than 50 minutes per month while driving had a 5.59 times higher risk of car accidents compared to drivers who didn't use phones.
Research shows a strong association between cell phone use and increased crash risk. One study found drivers talking on phones for over 50 minutes monthly had nearly six times higher accident rates.
This early 1996 study didn't distinguish between hands-free and handheld use, focusing only on talking time. The research found any phone conversation while driving increased accident risk significantly regardless of phone type.
Research indicates talking on cell phones for more than 50 minutes per month while driving creates a 5.59-fold increase in accident risk compared to non-users, suggesting even moderate use poses safety concerns.
Studies show mobile phone use while driving significantly increases crash risk. One key study found drivers who talked on phones frequently had nearly six times higher accident rates than non-users.