Originally Posted by
Angio Graham
I got my first cell phone in 1998. That year there were 41,501 vehicle fatalities in America. In 2012 there were 32,367 fatalities in America. That coincides with an estimate that cell phone usage in America grew by 49% during that time.
As cell phone usage has increased, vehicle fatalities have decreased.
I would note that you're somewhat comparing apples and oranges here.
Vehicles have become safer, mostly due to increases in airbags (which only became mandatory some years after you purchased your first cell phone, IIRC), and other safety increases like traction control, anti-lock brakes, etc.
I'm not sure that there is good data on the actual number of
accidents that include incidents with no injury. I suspect that number is probably increasing (or steady per capita, maybe), but I would not at all be surprised if it is increasing. Maybe the insurance company data is better, but I don't know how much they are required to report. Not all accidents get reported to police, since the laws vary by state for 'fender benders'.