P2.07: Risk factors for childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa - a comparison of survey data with form information from a demographic surveillance system
✍ Scribed by Gaël P. Hammer; Bocar Kouyaté; Heiko Becher
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2004
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 77 KB
- Volume
- 46
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0323-3847
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Even though, other health risks of mobile phone use are still under debate, the results with regard to motor vehicle accidents are unequivocal. The use of cellular telephones is associated with a reduced driving performance and a higher risk of a collision during the brief period of a call. The aim of the present review is to quantify the health risk of mobile phone use while driving a car. With regard to the keywords: 'mobile phone use', 'cellular telephone', 'car crash', 'accidents', 'collision' articles published in English language within the last 10 years were seeked in medline. Up to now, 16 experimental and 10 epidemiological studies are found. Experimental studies on driving performance by using a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle are based on simulators studies but also on realistic driving behavior on the road. The experiments took place in small groups of both genders in all age ranges, but mostly experienced drivers. The reaction time of persons using a mobile phone was delayed in persons compared to drivers not using a mobile phone. Experienced drivers were distracted in a lesser degree by using a mobile phone than inexperienced drivers. Epidemiologic studies are also available, mostly case control and observational studies. Results indicate a significant increased rate among drivers with mobile phones for inattention, unsafe speed, driving on wrong side of road, and running off the roadway. Different study designs and different measured outcomes complicated the quantification and summarization. Interesting results were revealed by the analysis of hand free devices. Most experimental studies using both types of telephones in the car found no differences in the driving performance between persons using hand free devices versus use of handheld devices. Also in epidemiological studies no differences between hand free and hand held devices were found. The health risks of using a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle are well known, even though the estimation of the risk is complicated by the different outcomes. The use of mobile phones with or without hand free devices should be avoided while driving a motor vehicle. Further studies are necessary to provide evidence whether hand free devices of mobile phones may prevent mobile phone associated accidents.