Having some time on my hands, I decided to peruse the world wide web of insurance to see if I could find some interesting numbers to share with our “blogreaders” (is that a new word?). Let’s talk about cell phones and alcohol!
According to an article by the Insurance Information Institute (III), more than 212 million people in the U.S. used cell phones as of April, 2006! This is up from 4.3 million in 1992 (remember “bag phones” and the Motorola “brick” phones?). The increased usage of cell phones has obviously led to increased use while driving, and this has led to numerous studies about the effect of cell phone use while behind the wheel. One of the most recent studies was conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, and this study found several telling statistics:
- Almost 80% of all crashes and 65% of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds of the event. The study found that the most common distraction is cell phone usage, followed by drowsiness. But cell phones do not lead the pack as to why crashes happen. Reaching for a moving object (such as a falling cup) increase the risk of a crash or near-crash by nine times, while cell phone usage only increased the risk by 1.3 times.
- Motorists who use cell phones are four times more likely to get into a crash serious enough to injure themselves. The same study also states that hands-free use of the phone won’t necessarily improve driver safety!
- Businesses are increasingly prohibiting employees from using cell phones while driving to conduct company business. The reason for this action is based on a court case in October of 2004 in which a driver using a cell phone and got into an accident killing a young girl (Yoon v Wagner). The family was awarded $2 million by a Virginia jury for damages. Another suit is pending against the driver’s employer after a search of phone records found that the driver was talking with a client when she hit the girl.
- More than 40 countries have laws that restrict or prohibit the use of cell phones while driving. The latest data show that 6.4% of fatal crashes occur due to inattentive driving.
Click here for the full article in text form.
Alcohol? We’ve all heard of the horrors associated with drinking and driving, but here are some numbers you may not be familiar with!
- It’s estimated that 50% of Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related accident in their lifetime.
- Alcohol-related crashes are the leading cause of death for Americans 16-24 years old.
- Over 65% of all fatal single car crashes are alcohol related, and more than 80% of all alcohol related accidents occur between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
- In some parts of the country between the hours of 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. more than 10% of the drivers on the road are legally impaired.
- The average alcohol impaired driver arrested has a blood alcohol level of .20%, double the legal maximum in most states. That is 14 drinks of 86% proof (or 14 beers) in 4 hours for a 180 pound man (whew!).
- 7% of drivers account for 66% of all alcohol related fatal crashes!
- Allstate Insurance claims that alcohol impaired drivers cost American taxpayers between $21 and $24 billion annually
Non-driving statistics are just as compelling:
- 40% of all suicide attempts are alcohol-related
- 54% of all violent crimes are alcohol-related
- 60% of all emergency room visits are alcohol-related
- 80% of all domestic disputes are alcohol-related
Remember…drink responsibly and don’t let others drink and drive. All you producers out there…remember the legal doctrines of “ last-clear chance” and “intervening-cause!”