Cohen takes on "texting while driving" research
Finds driving in general to be a cause for concern
Texting while driving is one of many ways that deaths in or near vehicles can occur. Faculty Associate Philip Cohen's research makes a point to put the "texting while driving" debate in context, by showing that it is driving in general that is associated with more vehicle deaths per 100,000 people.
To demonstrate this, he shows two graphs, one depicting that there is no relationship between vehicle deaths per 1000 population, and mobile subscriptions per 100,000 population in the U.S, and the other plotting vehicle deaths against vehicle miles driven, wherein a clear, positive relationship emerges. Therefore, while texting when driving is dangerous, dealing with the issue must be seen in the context of the hazards of driving in general.