Demonizing Cell Phones

NYT article includes a piece taking on the misconception that cell phones are the primary form of driver distraction.

While cell phones have been singled out as a major cause of distraction-related accidents, the biggest diversions are fairly low tech, according to Jane Stutts, the author of the AAA study. Outside stimuli — billboards or accident scenes that inspire rubbernecking — accounted for almost 30 percent of crashes; adjusting the radio or CD player, 11.4 percent; talking with passengers, 10.9 percent; adjusting climate control, 2.8 percent; eating or drinking, 1.7 percent. Cell phones accounted for just 1.5 percent of accidents, the study found.