141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

281567
Determining the effectiveness of California's distracted driving regulations in decreasing motor vehicle crashes

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Fernando Wilson, PhD , College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Jim P. Stimpson, PhD , Department of Health Services Research and Administration, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
We measured the impact on road fatalities and motor vehicle crashes of California's restrictions on use of cell phones and other electronic devices while driving. The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and state department of transportation (DOT) monthly crash data were utilized to examine improvements in road safety from distracted driving legislation targeting teen and other drivers. The FARS records data on all fatal crashes on US public roads in which at least 1 fatality occurred. State DOT data on monthly number of motor vehicle crashes were also examined. Difference-in-differences regression was used to measure a ban's impact on roadway safety over time and in comparison with other states. Within 12 months of implementation of a ban on teen driver use of electronic devices, fatalities per 100 billion vehicle-miles traveled from teen driver-involved crashes decreased from 50.9 to 27.2. Difference-in-differences regression predicts that the ban decreased fatality rates by one-third in 2010. There is also evidence that California's universal ban on handheld cell phone use was effective in decreasing crashes. Generalized linear regression results suggest that California's ban on handheld cell phone use decreased monthly total motor vehicle crashes by over 4,000 compared to Texas and Florida—states without a universal cell phone ban. Study findings suggest restrictions on cell phone use for teen and other drivers were effective in improving roadway safety on California roadways. This study has important implications for state and federal policymakers who may be considering policies to tackle the public health threat of distracted driving.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the impact of state distracted driving policies in improving road safety.

Keywords: Law, Motor Vehicles

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a co-author of the paper by contributing to the design and writing.
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.