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Drivingness: Distractions, Car Accidents, and Driver Safety

Updated on May 10, 2013

Distractions on the Road

Talking on a cell phone and driver safety is a major distraction on the roads. Study after study has found that hand held cell phone use while driving is extremely dangerous.  In one study done by University of Utah psychologists, they found people who drive and talk on a cell phone, hand held, or hands free are more likely to get into an accident because they are distracted when they talk.  Driver’s reaction in this study were slower to react to situations and to brake slower, and increased their risk of crashing , similar to reactions of those driving while intoxicated .   

The use of cell phones while driving is a big problem to driver safety. According to USNews.com the multitasking of driving and cell phone use is becoming more and more an issue.

Driver Distraction

Texting is Distracted Driving

Texting and driving is more dangerous than drunk driving. Be aware and help us all be safer.
Texting and driving is more dangerous than drunk driving. Be aware and help us all be safer. | Source

Cell Phones, Texting and Driving

¨ 72% of drivers use their cell phones while driving

¨ 66% of drivers don’t use hands free devices

¨ 25% send or receive texts when driving

Driver safety becomes an issue when talking on a cell phone for many obvious reasons. Multitasking while driving can easily cause the driver to be distracted. In a research done by the University of South Carolina studied how participating in a conversation, creates added strain on the brain and can hinder the visual responsibility while of the driver. Driver safety becomes endangered by overloading the brain. People in the study were 4 times more likely to not be attentive when they were talking or about to talk on the cell phone. When people listen they can tune in and out, but they couldn’t do that as easily when talking, and this created more likihood of distractions to driver safety. The study also found people were able to focus on what is in front of them more easily when the phone was put in front of them. The reason for this, it is believed, is because there is less distraction when both tasks are in the same physical space.

According to the U.S. government, there are 3 ways a driver can be distracted

1. when they take their eyes off of what is ahead of them

2. when they take their hands off the steering wheel

3. when they are not paying attention to what they are doing

Texting is Very Risky While Driving

A study done by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in 2009, concluded that the risk of a car accident is 23 times more likely when people are texting and driving at the same time.  The National Safety Council calculates that about 200,000 car accidents can be attributed to texting. Teens understand the dangers of drunk driving better than the risks of texting, according. Teens and adults admit to texting  behind the wheel at about an equal percent. The good news is in 2009 distracted driving accidents went down by 6% compared to 2008. Distracted driving, especially from electronic devices is still a major problem, but with awareness and stepped up effort to change this on all our parts, maybe this blog will become obsolete. 

Enforcing the Rules

Why do people need rules to do what is right and what makes sense?
Why do people need rules to do what is right and what makes sense? | Source

Keep Your Eyes on The Road

A study done by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in 2009, concluded that the risk of a car accident is 23 times more likely when people are texting and driving at the same time.  The National Safety Council calculates that about 200,000 car accidents can be attributed to texting. Teens understand the dangers of drunk driving better than the risks of texting, according. Teens and adults admit to texting  behind the wheel at about an equal percent. The good news is in 2009 distracted driving accidents went down by 6% compared to 2008. Distracted driving, especially from electronic devices is still a major problem, but with awareness and stepped up effort to change this on all our parts, maybe this blog will become obsolete.

There is no federal law across the United States that prohibits drivers from using cell phones. 30 states and the District of Columbia outlawed drivers from texting,   8 states  have laws against drivers to stop them from  using hand held cell phones.  Senator Charles Schumer,(democrat from New York) is pushing for legislation that would holdback some of the money allocated for transportation from the government if a  states  refuses to pass laws against  texting and driving. Tickets and penalties may not be enough to stop people from using their electronic devices while driving.  People do not believe there is a perceived risk, or believe they can multitask both well while driving. But the toll it takes on our brain to multitask while in the car is greater than we think.  Our thinking needs to change. Any call that is important enough to take or make is important enough to pull off the road for. Remember this, and tell everyone you know to do the same.  It is just one more thing we can do for each other for a safer journey.

How many us think about the abilities we have in this day and age to travel so many miles, so fast, yet communicate as though we haven’t left the block. Cell phones, texting, GPS and automobiles are amazing devices. They don’t mix though. Driving is a privilege.  Driving a 2 ton vehicle is a big responsibility. Driving with our full attention behind the wheel is what we all need from each other.

 Keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel and your fingers off phones. 

Drive safely!  Spread the word.  Create awareness! 

Do You Think Higher Fines Deter Distracted Drivers from Multitasking?

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