Smartphone use more dangerous than drink driving

Using smartphones for social networking while driving is more dangerous than drink driving or being high on cannabis behind the wheel, according to research published by the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists). Despite this, 8% of drivers admit to using smartphones for email and social networking while driving – equivalent to 3.5 million licence holders.

Around 24% of 17-24 year old drivers – a group already at higher risk of being in a crash – admit to using smartphones for email and social networking while driving.

The research used a car driving simulator to examine the effects of young drivers using smartphones to access facebook. In every test of driving performance, young people who were using facebook while driving were badly affected:

• reaction times slowed by around 38% and participants often missed key events;
• participants were unable to maintain a central lane position resulting in an increased number of unintentional lane departures; and
• were unable to respond as quickly to the car in front gradually changing speed.

When comparing these new results to previous studies, the level of impairment on driving is greater than the effects of drinking, cannabis and texting.