Citizens' Band Radio: saviour or sinner?
Page 41
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
YOUR EDITORIAL on Citizens Band, Radio shows a commendable regard for vehicles safety but a lack of information on the most recent studies of the role of CB in accidents.
Far from being a cause of accidents, a number of studies, including a far reaching survey at this University, show that vehicles carrying CB are less, likely to be involved in accidents. The reasons are threefold: a driver with CB is more likely to "personalise" the drivers of nearby vehicles and is therefore less likely to drive aggressively; he is more likely to be warned of imminent hazards in time to avoid them; and he is less likely to be speeding since drivers with CB are less bored and under less pressure to finish a journey quickly.
It is indeed true that an early study indicated that drivers using microphones were more likely to have accidents. A later, follow-up programme showed that this conclusion was the result of faulty experimental technique — drivers taking part in the study were instructed to give the radio operation priority over the driving — this is unrealistic in real life.
The later study, of drivers on the road rather than on a laboratory obstacle course, showed that a driver faced with a hazard drops his microphone and reacts as well as an unencumbered driver.
The US Department of Transportation, National Highways Traffic Safety Administration, has recently published the results of a study showing conclusively that the use of CB improved the response of the ambulance service to the victims of traffic accidents by 30 per cent. This is a factor which will save a lot of lives. This study was in New York State which has roughly the same population density as England.
In the light of this and other studies the FCC, the Department of Transportation, and the Interstate Commerce Commission have urged all drivers who do not already carry CB to do so — in the interests of safety. I hope that the Minister of Transport will see the Home Secretary as you urge,' but will press him to introduce CB in the UK as soon as possible — in the interest of road safety.
Prof D. WINTERMANN Dept of Automobile Psychology Garrison University North Dakota, USA The professor has not read the Editorial as carefully as he might — and judging by the volume of correspondence we have received he is not alone.
There never was any suggestion that CB might not save life. But there is no doubt that it is used to evade law and consequently protects speed merchants and does distract drivers.
We could and will develop this topic in subsequent issues.—Editor