Author Description

Because of a scarcity of studies and the disparity of results, it is impossible to compare the effects of cell phones to that of other telematics or to make conclusive statements about the effects of other telematics and on-board devices on driving. [...] Some studies report a decrease in the rate of hand-held cell phone use following the introduction of a law and then a return to the initial rate that existed prior to the law's enactment. [...] In light of the results of the empirical studies and the favourable climate of opinion, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) maintains that cell phone use while driving represents a significant risk to road users and has formulated three recommendations. [...] Recommendation 1: A total ban on cell phone use while driving In light of the main conclusions of this advisory, the INSPQ maintains that the task of driving is, by itself, sufficiently complex and that cell phone use while driving serves only to significantly increase the risk of collision, regardless of the type of device used. [...] Since the cell phone is the most popular of the devices mentioned, virtually all of the studies reviewed examine the effects of this device on performance and collision risk.