New England UTC Year 24 – Research Project
Description
UTC Project Number: UTC HVDR24-14
Project Title: Cell Phones and Driver Safety
University: Harvard University
Co- Principal Investigators: Erich Muehlegger and Daniel Shoag
PI Contact Information (name and email): Erich Muehlegger
(Erich_Muehlegger@hks.harvard.edu) and Daniel Shoag
(Daniel_Shoag@hks.harvard.edu)
Funding Sources (cite Federal and Cost Share):

Federal: $98,811

Cost Share: $98,811
Total Project Cost: $197,622
Funding Agency: USDOT/RITA
Grant number: DTRT12-G-UTC01
Start date: 6/1/12
End date: 12/31/13
Brief description of project:
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Widespread adoption of smart phones, cell phones and other mobile
devices has changed many aspects of society dramatically.
Understanding the relationship between device use, distracted driving
and driver safety is a vital question for public health, safety and
transportation. We propose to bring novel data to bear on this
important question. We will merge information about all fatal and
non‐ fatal police reported crashes with minute‐ by‐ minute, localized
data on cell phone usage. Given increased use of mobile devices and
increased use of information technology integrated directly into
vehicles, our research will examine a question of vital importance and
will addresses directly NEUTC’s research focus on driver distraction
and safety.
Describe implementation of research/education outcomes (or why not
implemented):
The investigators will address the research questions by combining and
statistically analyzing several novel datasets on vehicle crashes,
weather and cell phone use. The work product will consist of a
research paper which the investigators will disseminate through
working paper series, academic research seminars and meetings with
policy and industry stakeholders. The research paper will be
submitted for publication to an academic research journal.
Task 1: Review literature examining the relationship between cell
phone use, distracted driving and motor vehicle crashes. [Completed.
Investigators surveyed the existing literature on vehicle safety, cell
phone use and distracted driving.]
Task 2: Collect and geocode motor vehicle crash data. [Completed.
Investigators obtained geocoded crash data for all of the motor vehicle
accidents in 2010 in Massachusetts reported to local or state police.
Pending the availability of additional cell phone data, the crash data
can be obtained for earlier years.]
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Task 3: Identify and collect data on cell phone usage. [In progress.
Investigators are in contact with a research team from the Media Lab at
MIT with access to cell phone data for the Boston metropolitan area for
2010. Investigators are collaborating with the team on a separate
project which uses cell phone data in a different context.]
Task 4: Conduct a statistical analysis of the relationship between cell
phone usage and motor vehicle crashes. [Pending completion of tasks 2
and 3.]
Task 5: Draft findings as an academic working paper. [Pending
completion of task 4.]
Task 6: Disseminate findings through working paper series, academic
seminar presentations and meetings with industry and policy
stakeholders. [Pending completion of task 5.]
Task 7: Incorporate comments obtained from circulating working paper.
Submit paper for publication to academic journal. [Pending
completion of task 6.]
Anticipated Results / Benefits of Research
This study will quantify the impact on cell phone usage on automobile
accidents, injuries, and fatalities. The richness of the data will allow
the investigators to more cleanly measure this impact and to explore
how the impact of cell phone usage (calls and texting) varies with road
conditions, traffic conditions, weather, time of day, and other factors.
The estimates are important for policy makers considering prevention
measures. Research that quantifies factors that magnify the risk will
help public officials target these measures more effectively. Given the
pressing public safety concerns raised by expanding cell phone usage,
this study will provide useful estimates for policy makers and spur
further academic research.
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