“In 2011, nearly one in five crashes (17%) in which someone was injured involved distracted driving.” -CDC
According to the in 2013 alone 32,719 deaths were attributed to motor vehicle related incidents. Nearly 10% of these deaths resulted from distracted driving crashes (Distraction.gov). Of the top related reasons for fatality in the United States, distracted driving ranked third at an overwhelming 26% (NSC). Thirty years ago this definition of this category would be far less technology based but the fact remains that today’s drivers are facing risks previously unheard of and not easily combated:
“With advancements in cell phone technology, distracted driving has been an increasing and misunderstood trend” –NSC
Click to learn more
Distracted Driving is defined by the CDC as driving while doing any activity that takes your attention away from driving. This includes using a cell-phone, texting, and eating. But these examples only encompass the manual category of distraction. What many drivers fail to realize is there exist far more distractions than these that have the potential to endanger lives. Even the use of in-vehicle technologies such as radio and navigation can be a source of distraction. The three main categories include visual, manual, and cognitive. Texting is especially threatening because it combines all three!
· Visual Distractions: defined as the driver taking his/her eyes off the road; includes reading billboards, maps, text messages, and any act of turning ones eye away from the road for extended periods of time.
· Manual Distractions: defined as the driver removing his/her hands from the steering wheel; includes fiddling with the radio and navigation systems, food, and/ or phone applications such as composing a text message.
· Cognitive Distractions: defined as the driver taking his/her mind off of driving. Focus is the main key to safe driving; any act that captures the drivers’ attention can be deemed a cognitive distraction.
· Visual Distractions: defined as the driver taking his/her eyes off the road; includes reading billboards, maps, text messages, and any act of turning ones eye away from the road for extended periods of time.
· Manual Distractions: defined as the driver removing his/her hands from the steering wheel; includes fiddling with the radio and navigation systems, food, and/ or phone applications such as composing a text message.
· Cognitive Distractions: defined as the driver taking his/her mind off of driving. Focus is the main key to safe driving; any act that captures the drivers’ attention can be deemed a cognitive distraction.
The biggest myth common among drivers is that the brain is capable of two things at once. Science Magazine reported the brain can’t effectively handle more than two complex, related activities at once. If two tasks require attention, the brain will split the labor: activity in the left side of the prefrontal cortex performs one task while the right side performs the other. But because there are only two hemispheres in the brain, the maximum amount of tasks managed cannot exceed two. Because driving requires hand-eye coordination, the quota is filled before any other factors are associated. If a third task is added, the prefrontal cortex will always discard one (Telis, 2010). This separation of attention also affects the Frontal Lobe, Occipital Lobe and Temporal Lobe of the brain.
“Driving and cell phone conversations both require a great deal of thought. When doing them at the same time, your brain is unable to do either well" -NSC
According to the Department of Transportation, “today, 39 states, D.C., Guam, and the Virgin Islands ban texting while driving, and 10 states, D.C., Guam, and the Virgin Islands ban all hand-held cell phone use behind the wheel” (DOT). Though this is a progressive initiative, the problem extends past the physical use of a cell phone. Many drivers believe that the use of hands-free technology is a safe alternative. But the driver remains distracted by the conversation. The National Safety Council reports that activity in the parietal lobe decrease by 37% when listening to language. This increases the driver’s chances of missing changes in the environment by 50% and is directly related to delayed brake-reaction time (NSC).
A look at the statistics shows that in 2011 approximately 387,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes that resulted from a distracted driver. This number rose to a near 421,000 in 2012, a near 9% increase. Today nearly 69% of drivers in the United States are reported to drive distracted at least once a month (CDC).
Public opinion about distracted driving compared to the current statistics on fatality seems relatively ambivalent. In a study conducted by the NHSTA, drivers were asked to rank potentially distracting behavior that may make driving more dangerous. Of the 12 options presented, talking to other passengers ranked the lowest, followed by eating/drinking, changing radio stations, and using navigation systems. But it was also found that among participation of these behaviors, talking to other passengers ranked highest, followed by changing the radio, then eating and drinking.
A look at the statistics shows that in 2011 approximately 387,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes that resulted from a distracted driver. This number rose to a near 421,000 in 2012, a near 9% increase. Today nearly 69% of drivers in the United States are reported to drive distracted at least once a month (CDC).
Public opinion about distracted driving compared to the current statistics on fatality seems relatively ambivalent. In a study conducted by the NHSTA, drivers were asked to rank potentially distracting behavior that may make driving more dangerous. Of the 12 options presented, talking to other passengers ranked the lowest, followed by eating/drinking, changing radio stations, and using navigation systems. But it was also found that among participation of these behaviors, talking to other passengers ranked highest, followed by changing the radio, then eating and drinking.
“Not surprisingly, drivers who themselves engage in each behavior are less likely to feel it makes driving more dangerous than those who do not engage in the behavior.” (NHSTA)