Legislation banning cellphone use while driving was associated with a 30% decrease in fatal MVCs involving teen drivers.
Between 2013 and 2016, there was a rise in cellphone use among adolescents and a concomitant increase in motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) in this age group. In a retrospective time series analysis, researchers studied the association between enactment of state distracted driving laws and fatal MVCs involving teen drivers. Using the U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System, they analyzed data for 38,215 fatal MVCs involving drivers aged 16 to 19 years from 2007 to 2017.
The overall incidence rate of such fatal MVCs was 20.1 per 100,000 persons. The rate increased with each year of driver age, from 10.7 per 100,000 persons aged 16 to 27.2 per 100,000 persons aged 19. Over the study period, the number of states with distracted driving laws increased…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardEli Lilly and Company; Advisory Council, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; Subboard for Adolescent Medicine, American Board of Pediatrics
Grant/Research SupportPatty Brisben Foundation
Editorial BoardsOsteoporosis International; Bone; Journal of Adolescent Health
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardEli Lilly and Company; Advisory Council, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; Subboard for Adolescent Medicine, American Board of Pediatrics
Grant/Research SupportPatty Brisben Foundation
Editorial BoardsOsteoporosis International; Bone; Journal of Adolescent Health