Abu Dhabi: While use of mobile phones during driving has become a significant safety hazard despite ongoing awareness campaigns, a study warned that texting on phone is more dangerous than drink-driving.
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reported that according to a study by University of Utah psychologists, using a cell phone while behind the wheel is as dangerous as driving intoxicated.
"Just like you put yourself and other people at risk when you drive drunk, you put yourself and others at risk when you use a cell phone and drive. The level of impairment is very similar," said David Strayer, a psychology professor at University of Utah and the study's lead author.
However, the use of mobile phones while driving is common in the UAE. "Some 13,389 motorists have been caught by the Abu Dhabi police while driving in the first half of 2011," said Colonel Jamal Al Ameri, public relations director at the Abu Dhabi Police, Traffic and Patrol Department.
Experts said that mobile phones usage cause two types of distractions: a physical one when a driver holds the phone and dials… etc, and a cognitive distraction when part of his attention is diverted to the conversation content.
High rate of road deaths
Mobile phones become even more dangerous when the driver's attention is entirely diverted to the phone, both physical and cognitive, which is the case when the driver starts messaging.
"Abu Dhabi has one of the highest rates of road deaths in the world. An average of 38 deaths per month occurs in Abu Dhabi," Barry Hope from Gulf Sport Racing said.
One of the reasons of road fatalities in the UAE is texting while driving. The recent death of a famous Emirati footballer drove more attention to the issue.
Experts said that simulator studies, test-track studies and studies of actual driving behaviour proved that mobile phone use increases the possibility of road crashes by four times.
Human reaction and decision making in general or emergency situations are significantly impaired.
The statistics appear to be consistent on a worldwide basis. "I used to always text while driving, now after continuous campaigns and accidents we hear about, I stopped. I do lots of calls however while driving using speaker phone," said Egyptian I. Hamad, 42.
"I don't make calls while driving; however I do receive calls and make them short. I never text while driving," said Stephanie, 29, German.
"Road accidents occurring while using mobile phones do not have proven impact on the human body from a medical perspective that can contribute to the cause of accidents.
Sending SMS common
A study by the Japanese National Police Agency on rate of accidents when using a cellular device revealed that 32 per cent of the crashes occurred while dialling, 42 per cent while answering, 20 per cent while talking and 6 per cent as they are hanging up. The under-20 age group had the highest percentage of distracted drivers; nearly 50 per cent of drivers in this category admitted to texting while driving, and 16 per cent were involved in fatal crashes.
