Distracted driving of all types is one of the major safety concerns of road cyclists. Phone-glued-to-ear remains a serious enough distraction, but texting while driving (or using apps, email, etc.) can be far more dangerous because it requires a driver to completely take their focus off the road and their surroundings.
And, according to a recent AP story, it’s only getting worse, even as police resort to novel methods to try to catch texting motorists in the act – from driving in a semi to sit high up with a good view to dressing as a homeless person to patrol at intersections, according to the article.
“It’s everyone, kids, older people — everyone. When I stop someone, they say, ‘You’re right. I know it’s dangerous, but I heard my phone go off and I had to look at it,'” said West Bridgewater (Massachusetts) Officer Matthew Monteiro, as quoted in the article. Officer Monteiro is a bike cop, pedaling around his town and citing motorists he sees texting.
According to the article, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates nearly 3,500 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers in the mainland U.S. and Puerto Rico in 2015, up from almost 3,200 in 2014. The number of deaths in which cellphones were the distraction rose from 406 in 2014 to 476 in 2015.
“But many safety advocates say crashes involving cellphones are vastly underreported because police are forced to rely on what they are told by drivers, many of whom aren’t going to admit they were using their phones.”
“‘You don’t have a Breathalyzer or a blood test to see if they are using their phones,'” said Deborah Hersman, president and chief executive of the National Safety Council and former chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board. “‘Certainly, law enforcement can ask people, ‘Can I see your phone?’ but people can refuse, so they then have to get a search warrant.'”
The death rates and mayhem directly and indirectly linked to distracted driving continue to climb even though 14 states ban drivers from using hand-held devices for anthing while driving, including phone calls. And 46 states have laws banning texting and driving (typically also including using apps or email, surfing the Internet, etc.).
What can we as cyclists do to help stem the tide? Participate in local, regional and national cycling advocacy, for one thing. Advocacy groups at all levels continue to work with policy planners and municipalities to work toward more protected bike lanes and paths, and they likewise work toward enacting and bolstering the policing around laws that promote cycling safety.
Of course, doing the same on a personal level, being involved with your local governments and cycling organizations, working with police groups and such, is also a great thing.
And, here’s one thing any one of us who owns a mobile phone can do: just don’t look at it when you drive. Period.
Here’s a link to the full AP article.
—John Marsh
yeah nothing is ever going to seriously go against 2 cornerstones of american faith: cars and phones
Sadly, I think this about this issue, and other safety-related issues: It will take the death of a very high-profile person or relative of a politician to alter course in a meaningful way.
I live in south Florida where it is uncommon to see people not looking at their phone. I am recovering from a fractured pelvis from a hit and run. No one stopped and when I tried to flag down a passing police officer he didn’t see me – he was on his phone!