Bloomberg links the uptick in traffic fatalities throughout the United States to rising smartphone use while driving.
A recent study found that drivers use their phones during a full 88 percent of trips. But NHTSA records may reflect only half of cases where phone use caused a fatal crash—masking the danger of distracted driving compared to alcohol and speeding.
The difficulty, Bloomberg reports, stems in part from the fact that NHTSA gathers data from states, who in turn gather from local police. Each entity may compile crash metrics differently. It's also difficult to prove that phone use caused the crash.
Safety advocates such as Smith say lawmakers, investigators and prosecutors won’t prioritize the danger of mobile phones in vehicles until they are seen as a sizable problem—as big as drinking, say. Yet, it won’t be measured as such until it’s a priority for lawmakers, investigators and prosecutors.
FULL STORY: Smartphones Are Killing Americans, But Nobody’s Counting
2015 Road Toll: 35,200 Fatalities
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An estimated 42,915 people died in automobile crashes in 2021, according to recent federal data. The increasing fatalities continue a trend that began with the outset of the pandemic.
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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