Distracted Driving
Here’s Why You Should pay Attention3,450
Number of fatalities in America in 2016 due to distracted driving (NHTSA)
Kate Morgan remembers the incident vividly. She was driving to her parents’ house in suburban New Jersey, alone, with her cell phone on her lap.
It was around 10 p.m. “I’m not even sure exactly who I was texting, but it definitely wasn’t important,” recalls Morgan, a Pennsylvania-based journalist who was a teenager at the time. But she clearly recollects what happened next: The road beneath her curved, while she continued to drive straight. By the time she looked up, just a couple of seconds later, her car was hurtling onto someone’s lawn and crashing into a mailbox—which went flying over the hood of her station wagon.
She was uninjured but horribly shaken. “On an average afternoon, the front lawns on that street are full of kids. I know how bad it could have been,” says Morgan (who paid the homeowner for the damage).
“I don’t text and drive anymore.”
By The Numbers
Stories like Morgan’s—many of which end far more tragically—are all too common these days. The statistics are grave and alarming: Distracted driving was the cause of 3,450 American deaths in 2016, as well as 391,000 injuries in 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Yet many people continue the practice. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) found that American drivers engage in distracting activities more than 50 percent of the time they’re behind the wheel—effectively doubling their crash risk.
That risk translates into accidents. The same study concludes that 4 million of the 11 million crashes that occur in the U.S. every year would potentially be avoided if we could eliminate distraction.
“Make no mistake,” says Maureen Vogel, a representative for the National Safety Council (NSC). “Distracted driving is an epidemic.”
3,450
Number of fatalities in America in 2016 due to distracted driving (NHTSA)
36%
Potential amount of crashes in the U.S. each year that could be avoided if we eliminate distraction (PNAS)
36%
Potential amount of crashes in the U.S. each year that could be avoided if we eliminate distraction (PNAS)
“DISTRACTED DRIVING IS AN EPIDEMIC.”
—MAUREEN VOGEL, National Safety CouncilDISTRACTING THINGS WE ALL DO
It’s not just cell phones that can distract us. All of these (perfectly legal) activities have caused accidents—take extra caution.Quiz:
Do You Know The Facts?
Q: What’s the most common distracting behavior of drivers at a stoplight?
REVEAL ANSWER
A: Eating & drinking
Source: IIHS
Q: Reaching for, answering, or dialing a cell phone increases the risk of a crash (or near crash) by how much?
REVEAL ANSWER
A: Any of them triples your risk.
Source: IIHS
Q: How many teens who text say they have texted while driving?
REVEAL ANSWER
A: One in three. It increases their risk of a crash 23 times.
Source: NHTSA
Q: Which passengers cause teens to exhibit the riskiest behaviors? Family, friends, or no passengers?
REVEAL ANSWER
A: Friends, especially when there are two or more.
Source: NHTSA
Video: Avoiding Your Cell Phone While Driving
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More: Managing Emotions While Driving
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More: Managing Passengers While Driving
“THERE’S A DANGEROUS SORT OF CULTURAL COMPLACENCY THAT’S OVERTAKEN US, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO USING OUR DEVICES.”
FIGHT THE DISTRACTION
Before you start driving, put the phone on silent and stow it out of reach; or give it to a co-pilot.
FIGHT THE DISTRACTION
Any extreme emotion can cause tunnel vision. If you’re feeling angry, sad or stressed, don’t get behind the wheel. If you’re already driving, find a safe place to pull over and park until you feel better.
FIGHT THE DISTRACTION
Assign seats and roles to your passengers before getting in the car, to minimize potential distractions. Always secure pets in a crate or a backseat restraint.
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“If you had been reading this while driving 55 mph, you would have traveled the length of a football field.”
Caroline Kindrick says,
Thank you for the good information. Although, I need drive with a cell phone on. If I need to use the cell phone, I pull over and answer or call the appropriate number.
David Holm says,
Thanks for the useful information. Most of it is common sense but we need to be reminded to be more responsible, defensive drivers and save lives.
Beth Trapani says,
I agree wholeheartedly! Lately, there’s an ad popping up to buy online a ‘universal car phone clip’ that puts your phone directly in front of your face or next to it while you drive!! I don’t remember the name of the company, but I’m on the lookout for it. We need to get these things off the market!
Fern Kurland says,
And why would you want a cell phone in front of your face while you are driving? It sounds dangerous to me. Also sounds like an irresponsible invention.
Fern Kurland says,
So sorry. I misunderstood your post. I agree that it should not be on the market.
Diann Mack says,
This is so true that you can be distracted with cell phones. And when you’re angry you shouldn’t drive true and you should focus on your driving cuz you supposed to look out for the other guy more so than yourself
Theresa says,
Folks can pull into a well lit, well populated parking lot if they MUST answer a phone call or reply to a text. They can also pull far off on the roadside with their emergency flashers on.
They can assign message and ring tones to family members or friends if someone is ill or about to have a baby. Again, drive somewhere safe to answer/reply.
The other callers can AND should wait.
Sharon Falitz says,
Great article and great tips. Very educational. D
mary Murphy says,
thanks for this p s a . it is cute and informational probably motivationl
Gabriela says,
Good advice. Never use cellphone. talk or text
eleanor heannings says,
my cell is either off or muted while driving. I have also seen people driving with little lap dogs on their laps, what would happen if the dog’s head got caught in the wheel or something like that? Passenger in the car are also a distraction like babies in their car seats facing backwards, parents are always checking the baby mirror making sure they are ok, or toddlers asking for a drink or snack or siblings just being kids and fighting. there are so many kinds of distractions on the road. it may not be you causing the distraction but you must remember there is always someone close by who is.
Gwendel Duvall says,
Thanks for this article, even though I already know the things mentioned. Read them all with care.
Me says,
My phone is set not to ring when I am in the car ?
Ray says,
The first thing I did when I bought a new phone was to have my provider remove the ability to text I never did and I never will!
Lynn Craft says,
This is good information.
One thing I like about my old jeep – it is a standard with a canvas roof that makes a lot of noise & makes being on the phone near impossible.
But this week I learned that the second you look down to grab the shift stick can be the same second the person in front of you slams on their brakes. Using only peripheral vision to see the shift stick now.
anna fain everett says,
I never text and drive. If i am expecting a message of an emergency nature I pull over and take care of the problem. Then continue on my journey.
phil mckenzie says,
I learned a lot. I will now avoid distractions.