Hunter College Study Finds 33 percent of NYC Drivers Not Only Distracted by Cell Phones, But Also by Eating, Drinking, Grooming, and Blackberry-ing

Date: Friday, May 25, 2007
Contact: Meredith Halpern (Meredith.halpern@hunter.cuny.edu)
Phone: (212) 772-4068

One-third of drivers in New York City are not only operating their vehicles distracted by cell phones but also by smoking, eating, drinking, grooming, and playing with their Blackberry, according to new study directed by Hunter College Sociology Professor Peter Tuckel.

In the first comprehensive study on driver distractions in New York City, Professor Tuckel says, “On one hand, cars are being equipped with additional safety features, on the other hand, drivers are becoming more distracted.  Drivers in New York City are engaging in an increasing number of distractions, posing a grave threat to pedestrians and other drivers.”

Professor Tuckel cites findings from other studies that each year an estimated 284,000 distracted drivers are involved in serious crashes, and multi-tasking while behind the wheel increases your chance of getting into an accident by 400 percent.  Tuckel collaborated with Hunter students in his Introduction to Research Methods course to observe 1,800 drivers at 30 different intersections throughout New York City.

According to Tuckel and his team of researchers, distracted drivers were not only talking on their cell phones, but were also distracted because they were using electronic devices such as Blackberries and CD players, eating hamburgers and French fries, drinking coffee or soda, applying makeup, or smoking.

“It is clear that the car has become an extension of the home and office,” says Tuckel.  “For many, the car is now a communications center and a place to eat.  Many drivers think they can multi-task in the car, but that is not the case in these dense city streets.  There is only one thing they should be focusing on, and that is driving.”

About Hunter
With a highly diverse student population of more than 20,000, Hunter is the largest college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system and the first choice among all CUNY applicants. Founded in 1870, the College offers more than 170 undergraduate and graduate programs. Hunter is noted for its professional schools in education, health sciences, nursing and social work, as well as its excellence in the liberal arts. Heralded as the "Crown Jewel of CUNY" by The Princeton Review, Hunter College has a distinguished reputation for nurturing talented minority scientists and meeting the challenge of providing high-quality science education in the 21st century. The College also oversees the Hunter College Campus Schools serving gifted and talented students, preschool through grade 12. For more information about Hunter College, please visit our Web site at http://www.hunter.cuny.edu.

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