Texting and Driving: Is It Just Moral Panic?. Issue 11 (2nd November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: White, David R.; Hepworth, Daniel P.; Zidar, Michael S.
• Is Part Of: Deviant behavior. Volume 39:Issue 11(2018)
• Page Start: 1387
• Page End: 1397
• Publication Date: 2018-11-02
• Subjects: Deviant behavior -- Periodicals; 302.54205
• DOI: 10.1080/01639625.2018.1479915
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0163-9625

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Significant public efforts have been mounted to stop the perceived epidemic of texting and driving, especially among younger drivers. However, despite the taken-for-granted nature of these fears, cell phones are reported as a contributing factor in only about 1% of all crashes. This study examines 11 years of crash data from Kentucky to demonstrate that despite the exponential growth of cell phones in American culture, cell phone-related crashes have remained stable over time, and they represent far less of a public health risk than most people are led to believe. The conclusions are presented in the context of moral panic theory.