They analyzed 17,000 crashes and uncovered the frightening truth about cell phones behind the wheel

Večernji listIndependentProgressive3 hr. ago

A new study by the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has revealed that the use of mobile phones while driving is significantly more common than official police reports suggest. The research analyzed nearly 17,000 real traffic accidents that occurred between 2021 and 2024 in four U.S. states. By comparing anonymous telematics data from safe-driving apps with official police records, researchers found that phone usage was recorded seven times more frequently in digital data than in police reports. In the 30 seconds before collisions, phone use was noted in 7% of single-vehicle accidents and 8% of two-vehicle accidents, compared to less than 1% in police reports. Even in the last 10 seconds before an accident, phone use was still detected in 4% of single-vehicle crashes and 5% of two-vehicle crashes. Researchers identified hundreds of cases where drivers were actively interacting with their phone screens just before the collision, which were extremely rare in police records. The study highlights a significant discrepancy between digital data and official reports.

Bias read (Progressive): The article highlights a significant gap between official statistics and independent research findings, suggesting that current policies or enforcement related to mobile phone use while driving may be underestimating the issue. This frames the problem as a systemic oversight rather than a personal,

tportalIndependentCenter11 hr. ago

A new study by the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has revealed that official police data significantly underestimates mobile phone usage by drivers immediately before traffic accidents. The research analyzed over 17,000 crashes in four U.S. states between 2021 and 2024, comparing anonymous data from safety apps with police reports. Telemetry data showed that mobile phone use was recorded in at least seven percent of single-vehicle crashes and eight percent of two-vehicle collisions within 30 seconds of impact, compared to less than one percent mentioned in police reports. Even when focusing only on the last ten seconds before a crash, mobile phone use was still documented in four percent of single-vehicle crashes and five percent of multi-vehicle collisions. The study highlights 'passive' use, such as leaving the screen unlocked, which could indicate watching videos or social media content. While IIHS notes that nearly a quarter of surveyed drivers admitted to watching videos while driving in the past 30 days, they emphasize that their findings do not prove mobile phones caused all analyzed crashes. Nevertheless, the study underscores the significant risk of短

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual study conducted by a reputable institution (IIHS) without overtly promoting any political agenda. It discusses the issue of mobile phone use while driving, highlighting discrepancies between police records and telemetry data. The tone remains objective, presenting both