Distracted driving is a leading cause of serious and fatal automobile accidents in California and throughout the United States. The most dangerous, as well as the most common, form of driver distraction is cell phone use. According to a new study, although all electronic communication devices present a hazard behind the wheel, certain types of cell phones may be more dangerous than others.
Distracted Driving Statistics
Distracted driving causes car accidents every day. According to the United States Department of Transportation, distracted drivers were behind fatal accidents that took the lives of 3,142 victims in 2019 alone. This represented 9 percent of all fatal auto accidents in 2019.
Distracted driving refers to a driver’s failure to dedicate 100 percent of his or her attention to the roadway task due to a distraction, such as food, drink, passengers, text messages or emails, videos, photographs, the radio, a GPS, a car accident or a billboard. Driver distractions can come from both inside and outside of the vehicle.
Cell phone use is the most dangerous form of driver distraction, as it simultaneously distracts a driver manually, visually and cognitively. Crash data shows that young drivers (16 to 24 years old) are more likely to drive while distracted by electronic devices than older drivers. Drivers of all ages, however, are guilty of texting and driving.
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Which Is More Distracting: iPhone or Android?
According to a study by Insurify, an auto insurance comparison site, iPhone users are more likely to get into accidents than Android users. The study analyzed information from over 1.5 million car insurance applications, including each applicant’s car accident history and type of mobile device operating system. From this data, Insurify drew the following conclusions:
- iPhone (iOS) users had higher rates of car accidents and speeding tickets, while Android users had their drivers’ licenses suspended more often (at a 40 percent higher rate).
- About 10 percent of Android users stated that they had received speeding citations, while iPhone users came in at 13 percent.
- iPhone users got into at-fault car accidents at a 37 percent higher rate than Android users. Although the study could not conclude that these accidents were caused by distracted driving, the data draws significant correlations.
- Further research from The Zebra shows that iPhone users are 16 percent more likely to text, 14 percent more likely to browse social media and 10 percent more likely to take photos than Android users while driving.
- More than half of iPhone users (51 percent) admitted to texting while driving, compared to only 35 percent of Android users.
The Insurify study also found that iPhone users tend to have a younger age demographic than Android users. This may contribute to the higher number of accidents, as teen drivers are less experienced and more likely to drive while distracted. As of yet, no study confirms that one type of phone is more distracting than another. However, the data available highlights a trend of iPhone users being more likely to drive distracted and get into accidents.
All Cell Phone Use Is Dangerous
Using any type of cell phone or electronic communication device, iPhone or Android, is extremely dangerous while operating a motor vehicle. No driver can safely divide his or her attention between a cell phone and the driving task. Even if Android users are statistically less likely to be involved in car accidents, this does not make using an Android while driving any less irresponsible.
If you believe that the driver who crashed into you in Southern California was distracted by his or her cell phone at the time of the collision, the driver may be financially responsible for your crash. California is a fault-based car accident state, meaning you have the right to hold a distracted driver accountable. For assistance with the claims process, contact a car accident attorney in Los Angeles. An accident lawyer can help you prove distracted driving, such as by accessing the other driver’s cell phone records.
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