Medical Report: Researchers using competition to curb distracted driving

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Each year, there are more than 1 million auto accidents linked to cellphones and distracted drivers.

The insurance industry has been looking for creative solutions to encourage drivers to put away their handheld phones.

Drivers can get rate reductions if they allow usage to be monitored, and now, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are studying whether these solutions are working.

Drivers in the trial study participated in a game that rewarded them for not texting. Researchers found that when drivers were monitored and placed in competition against other drivers with an actual leaderboard, there was a 28% reduction in handheld phone use when driving.

Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough .

​​KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.