229203 Talking ourselves to death: An exploratory study of public health issues involved in driving while talking on cell phones

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Jerry K. Frye, PhD, LPC , Department of Communication Studies, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
Background: Significant public health issues have developed in reaction to a variety of technological innovations that involve driver distractions on American highways. As cell phone use while driving continues to increase, there is a comparable increased need for the general public to be protected against inherent dangers of driving while distracted (DWD). Method: Content analysis and comparative data analysis were employed to review the “available current state of knowledge” defined as data for the 2005 to the present time-frame. Collected data was organized in four categories including (1) justifications, (2) applied legislative measures, (3) attitudinal motivations, and (4) comparisons to driving under the influence (DUI). Results: Overconfident of multi-tasking abilities, Americans continue to ignore published research data and cell phone (DWD) has increased A synthesis of evidence provides a summary of documented evidence to separate myths from realities. Conclusions. Distracted drivers are a clear and present threat throughout the nation. The general public needs to be better educated and persuaded about the inherent dangers of (DWD). Additional research should be focused on comparative data involving multiple cultural comparisons of what has become a significant global public health problem. The DWD problems of today appear to parallel the obvious dangers of public smoking. Years ago it seemed absurd to think Americans would ever concede to public laws controlling smoking, but legislative action has had a significantly positive result. Likewise, it seems absurd to continue to allow Americans to drive while using cell phones. Strong, effective legislative action is needed and recommended.

Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Compare the effects of driving while intoxicated(DWI)with driving while distracted(DWD).

Keywords: Risk Behavior, Motor Vehicles

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I teach undergraduate and graduate level courses in persuasion and communication theory.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.