The Use of Cell Phones While Driving - A Case Study in Serbia

Abstract

Recording the data about the use of cell phones as one of the possible factors that contribute to accidents is not often conducted in practice. All the world’s research indicate that the use of cell phone affects negatively the attention of the driver and his ability to safely operate the vehicle. In the literature, the most frequently mentioned is the increasing risk of a traffic accident, four times when using the phone and also that when reading or texting messages the driver takes his eyes off the road for almost 5 seconds. This means that at a speed of 50 km/h, during these 5 seconds while looking at his phone, the driver exceeds 70 m, and does not look what is happening in front of him, or around the vehicle. This paper describes the world experience in terms of analysing accidents and the use of cell phones in accidents. Also, an analysis was conducted of the legislation about the use of cell phones while participating in traffic in Republic of Serbia, as well as the domestic experience about the use of cell phone. Based on the above analysis, a research about attitudes of citizens of Serbia has been made, in order to give at least an approximate picture of the problem.