Car phones can cause accidents

BMJ 1997;314:535 (22 February)

News

Car phones can cause accidents

Jessica Westall, Clegg scholar, BMJ

Using a mobile phone while driving quadruples the risk of havingan accident, according to a Canadian study.

The study showed that 24% of 699 drivers who had car phonesand were involved in accidents had used their phone during the10 minutes before the collision (New England Journal of Medicine1997;336:453-8). The risk of an accident was independent ofthe time of day, driver's age, and driving experience.

The authors found that use of a "hands free" set offered nosafety advantage and suggested that "motor vehicle collisionsresult from a driver's limitations with regard to attentionrather than dexterity."

Only Brazil, Israel, Switzerland, and two Australian stateshave legislation against using a mobile phone while driving.In Britain it is not illegal, although drivers may be prosecutedfor driving without due care and attention. Dr Barry Pless,editor of the Journal of Injury Prevention, said: "It is clearlydangerous to use a mobile phone whilst driving, and I thinktheir use should be prohibited.