ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 19, 1996 TAG: 9603190069
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
Uh-oh, gotta hang up; I just ran into a house
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - People with a cellular phone in the car run a 34 percent higher risk of having an accident, researchers said Monday. The danger mounts when they use the phone while doing something else, such as lighting a cigarette or drinking coffee.
Most often, motorists engrossed in a phone conversation run red lights and get into collisions at busy intersections. But even on the open highway, a car-phone call can take minds off driving.
``They're not intentionally cutting somebody off, just not seeing them,'' said John Violanti, a criminal justice professor at Rochester Institute of Technology.
The study, thought to be the first of its kind, appears in the March issue of Accident Analysis and Prevention, a British journal. The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association dismissed it as limited and flawed. ``It has glaring research shortcomings,'' said spokeswoman Pam Small.
The researchers, who plan a larger survey this year, countered that their findings, even though preliminary, should not be ignored at a time when cell-phone sales are booming.
The study indicates that a cell phone is a driver's biggest distraction, Violanti said. About one in 10 motorists in the United States owns a car phone, and the number is growing rapidly. Upwards of 30 million people use cellular phones, and about 28,000 subscribers a day sign up for cell-phone service nationwide.
- Associated Press
Coal output down
U.S. coal production in the week ended March 9 fell 2 percent, to 21.1 million tons from 21.6 million tons the week before, the Department of Energy said Monday. The industry produced 19.6 million tons in the same week last year. Domestic coal production so far this year is 196 million tons, 2 percent behind last year's at this time.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 44 linesby CNB