(Press-News.org) PHILADELPHIA (October 17, 2024) – A new study, conducted by a group of researchers led by Penn Nursing and Perelman School of Medicine and funded by the Centers for Disease Control, found a strong association between handheld cellphone use and risky driving behaviors among newly licensed teen drivers. The study, published online first in JAMA Open, used a smartphone telematics application to track the driving habits of hundreds of teens and identify potential safety risks.
The investigation found that teens who used their cellphones while driving were significantly more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors, such as hard braking and rapid acceleration. These behaviors can increase the risk of accidents and injuries.
"This study provides further evidence of the dangers of handheld cellphone use while driving," said lead-author Catherine C. McDonald, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Dr. Hildegarde Reynolds Endowed Term Chair of Primary Care Nursing; Professor of Nursing; Chair of Penn Nursing’s Department of Family and Community Health; and Co-director of the Penn Injury Science Center. "It's crucial for teens and their parents to be aware of the risks and to take steps to avoid using their phones while driving."
The researchers used a smartphone telematics application to track the driving habits of 119 teen drivers over a period of 60 days. These teens were licensed for less than one year. They analyzed data on trip characteristics, speeding, handheld cellphone use, and risky driving events. The study found that over 1/3 of trips had handheld cellphones and speeding occurred in over 40% of trips. Handheld cellphone use and speeding was also associated with kinematic risky driving events.
"Smartphone telematics applications provide a valuable tool for studying driving behavior and for developing interventions to improve safety," said McDonald. "By identifying risky behaviors, we can develop targeted interventions to help teens become safer drivers."
The researchers recommend that teens and their parents develop strategies to avoid using cellphones while driving, such as putting their phones out of reach or using hands-free devices. They also encourage parents to talk to their teens about the dangers of distracted driving and to set a good example by avoiding cellphone use while driving themselves.
The research was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under award number: R49CE003083. Co-authors include: Kevin Rix, PhD, MPH, Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, University of Texas Health Houston; Jeffrey P. Ebert, PhD, Penn Medicine Nudge Unit and the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; Subhash Aryal, PhD, Department of Nursing Faculty, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing; Ruiying Xiong, MS, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; Douglas J. Wiebe, PhD, University of Michigan; and M. Kit Delgado, MD, MS, Penn Medicine Nudge Unit and Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
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About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is one of the world’s leading schools of nursing. For the ninth year in a row, it is ranked the #1 nursing school in the world by QS University. Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is among the top ranked programs in the nation according to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. Our School also consistently ranks highly in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of best graduate schools and is ranked as one of the top schools of nursing in funding from the National Institutes of Health. Penn Nursing prepares nurse scientists and nurse leaders to meet the health needs of a global society through innovation in research, education, and practice. Follow Penn Nursing on: Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, & Instagram.
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