Role of mobile phones in motor vehicle crashes resulting in hospital attendance: a case-crossover study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of drivers' use of mobile (cell) phones on road safety.


METHODS
A case-crossover study.


METHODS
Perth, Western Australia.


METHODS
456 drivers aged > or = 17 years who owned or used mobile phones and had been involved in road crashes necessitating hospital attendance between April 2002 and July 2004.


METHODS
Driver's use of mobile phone at estimated time of crash and on trips at the same time of day in the week before the crash. Interviews with drivers in hospital and phone company's records of phone use.


RESULTS
Driver's use of a mobile phone up to 10 minutes before a crash was associated with a fourfold increased likelihood of crashing (odds ratio 4.1, 95% confidence interval 2.2 to 7.7, P < 0.001). Risk was raised irrespective of whether or not a hands-free device was used (hands-free: 3.8, 1.8 to 8.0, P < 0.001; hand held: 4.9, 1.6 to 15.5, P = 0.003). Increased risk was similar in men and women and in drivers aged > or = 30 and < 30 years. A third (n = 21) of calls before crashes and on trips during the previous week were reportedly on hand held phones.


CONCLUSIONS
When drivers use a mobile phone there is an increased likelihood of a crash resulting in injury. Using a hands-free phone is not any safer.
McEvoy
Suzanne P
SP
The George Institute for International Health, University of Sydney, PO Box M201, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia. smcevoy@thegeorgeinstitute.org
Stevenson
Mark R
MR
McCartt
Anne T
AT
Woodward
Mark
M
Haworth
Claire
C
Palamara
Peter
P
Cercarelli
Rina
R
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology