<P> A 2012 University of Southern California study found that unprotected adolescent sexual activity was more common among owners of smartphones . A study conducted by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (RPI) Lighting Research Center (LRC) concluded that smartphones, or any backlit devices, can seriously affect sleep cycles . Some persons might become psychologically attached to smartphones resulting in anxiety when separated from the devices . A "smombie" (a combination of "smartphone" and "zombie") is a walking person using a smartphone and not paying attention as they walk, possibly risking an accident in the process, an increasing social phenomenon . The issue of slow - moving smartphone users led to the temporary creation of a "mobile lane" for walking in Chongqing, China . The issue of distracted smartphone users led the city of Augsburg, Germany to embed pedestrian traffic lights in the pavement . </P> <P> Mobile phone use while driving--including calling, text messaging, playing media, web browsing, gaming, using mapping apps or operating other phone features--is common but controversial, since it is widely considered dangerous due to what is known as distracted driving . Being distracted while operating a motor vehicle has been shown to increase the risk of accidents . In September 2010, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 995 people were killed by drivers distracted by phones . In March 2011 a US insurance company, State Farm Insurance, announced the results of a study which showed 19% of drivers surveyed accessed the Internet on a smartphone while driving . Many jurisdictions prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving . In Egypt, Israel, Japan, Portugal and Singapore, both handheld and hands - free calling on a mobile phone (which uses a speakerphone) is banned . In other countries including the UK and France and in many US states, only the use of calling on handheld phones is banned, while hands - free use is permitted . </P> <P> A 2011 study reported that over 90% of college students surveyed text (initiate, reply or read) while driving . The scientific literature on the danger of driving while sending a text message from a mobile phone, or texting while driving, is limited . A simulation study at the University of Utah found a sixfold increase in distraction - related accidents when texting . Due to the complexity of smartphones that began to grow more after, this has introduced additional difficulties for law enforcement officials when attempting to distinguish one usage from another in drivers using their devices . This is more apparent in countries which ban both handheld and hands - free usage, rather than those which ban handheld use only, as officials cannot easily tell which function of the phone is being used simply by looking at the driver . This can lead to drivers being stopped for using their device illegally for a call when, in fact, they were using the device legally, for example, when using the phone's incorporated controls for car stereo, GPS or satnav . </P> <P> A 2010 study reviewed the incidence of phone use while cycling and its effects on behavior and safety . In 2013 a national survey in the US reported the number of drivers who reported using their phones to access the Internet while driving had risen to nearly one of four . A study conducted by the University of Vienna examined approaches for reducing inappropriate and problematic use of mobile phones, such as using phones while driving . </P>

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