distracted driving essay

Distracted Driving

Types of Distraction
How big is the problem?
Who is most at risk for distracted driving?
How to Prevent Distracted Driving
What States are Doing to Prevent Distracted Driving
What the Federal Government is Doing to Prevent Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving Fact Sheet
Additional Resources

Nine people in the United States are killed every day in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver . 1

Distracted driving is doing another activity that takes the driver’s attention away from driving. Distracted driving can increase the chance of a motor vehicle crash.

Anything that takes your attention away from driving can be a distraction. Sending a text message, talking on a cell phone, using a navigation system, and eating while driving are a few examples of distracted driving. Any of these distractions can endanger you, your passengers, and others on the road.

There are three main types of distraction: 2

Visual: taking your eyes off the road
Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
Cognitive: taking your mind off driving

In the United States, over 3,100 people were killed and about 424,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2019. 1
About 1 in 5 of the people who died in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2019 were not in vehicles―they were walking, riding their bikes, or otherwise outside a vehicle. 1

Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010-2013 , 2014–2018 and 2019

You can visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website for more information on how data on motor vehicle crash deaths are collected and the limitations of distracted driving data.

Young adult and teen drivers

A higher percentage of drivers ages 15–20 were distracted than drivers age 21 and older.
39% of high school students who drove in the past 30 days texted or emailed while driving on at least one of those days. 4
Texting or emailing while driving was more common among older students than younger students (see figure below) and more common among White students (44%) than Black (30%) or Hispanic students (35%). 4
Texting or emailing while driving was as common among students whose grades were mostly As or Bs as among students with mostly Cs, Ds, or Fs. 4
more likely to not always wear a seat belt;
more likely to ride with a driver who had been drinking alcohol; and
more likely to drive after drinking alcohol. 4

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , 2019

Source : Transportation Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019

What drivers can do

Do not multitask while driving. Whether it’s adjusting your mirrors, selecting music, eating, making a phone call, or reading a text or email―do it before or after your trip, not during.
You can use apps to help you avoid cell phone use while driving. Consider trying an app to reduce distractions while driving.

What passengers can do

Speak up if you are a passenger in a car with a distracted driver. Ask the driver to focus on driving.
Reduce distractions for the driver by assisting with navigation or other tasks.

What parents can do 5

Remind them driving is a skill that requires the driver’s full attention.
Emphasize that texts and phone calls can wait until arriving at a destination.
Familiarize yourself with your state’s graduated driver licensing system and enforce its guidelines for your teen.
Know your state’s laws on distracted driving . Many states have novice driver provisions in their distracted driving laws. Talk with your teen about the consequences of distracted driving and make yourself and your teen aware of your state’s penalties for talking or texting while driving.
Set consequences for distracted driving. Fill out CDC’s Parent-Teen Driving Agreement [PDF – 465 KB] together to begin a safe driving discussion and set your family’s rules of the road. Your family’s rules of the road can be stricter than your state’s law. You can also use these simple and effective ways to get involved with your teen’s driving: Parents Are the Key.
Set an example by keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel while driving.
Learn more: visit NHTSA’s website on safe teen driving .
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tracks cell phone use laws and young passenger restrictions by state.
4.1% to 2.7% in the Sacramento Valley Region in California, 6
6.8% to 2.9% in Hartford, Connecticut, 7
4.5% to 3.0% in the state of Delaware, 6 and
3.7% to 2.5% in Syracuse, New York. 7
Graduated driver licensing (GDL) is a system which helps new drivers gain experience under low-risk conditions by granting driving privileges in stages. Comprehensive GDL systems include five components 8- 9 , one of which addresses distracted driving: the young passenger restriction. 10 CDC’s GDL Planning Guide [PDF – 3 MB] can assist states in assessing, developing, and implementing actionable plans to strengthen their GDL systems.
Some states have installed rumble strips on highways to alert drowsy, distracted, or otherwise inattentive drivers that they are about to go off the road. These rumble strips are effective at reducing certain types of crashes. 10
CDC has developed the Parents Are the Key campaign, which helps parents, pediatricians, and communities help keep teen drivers safe on the road.
In 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation released the National Roadway Safety Strategy [PDF – 42 pages] . Part of the strategy includes supporting vehicle technology systems that detect distracted driving.
In 2021, Congress provided resources to add distracted driving awareness as part of driver’s license exams as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law [PDF – 1039 pages] .
In 2009, President Obama issued an Executive Order prohibiting federal employees from texting while driving government-owned vehicles or when driving privately owned vehicles on official government business.
In 2010, the Federal Railroad Administration banned cell phone and electronic device use for railroad operating employees on the job.
In 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration banned commercial vehicle drivers from texting while driving.
In 2011, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration banned all hand-held cell phone use by commercial drivers and drivers carrying hazardous materials.
NHTSA has several campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, including their annual “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” campaign, which began in April 2014.
NHTSA has issued voluntary guidelines to promote safety by discouraging the introduction of both original, in-vehicle [PDF – 177 pages] and portable/aftermarket [PDF – 96 pages] electronic devices in vehicles.

This fact sheet provides an overview of distracted driving and promising strategies that are being used to address distracted driving.

Distracted Driving Summary Fact Sheet [PDF – 660 KB]

CDC MMWR – Transportation Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019
CDC MMWR – Mobile Device Use While Driving — United States and Seven European Countries, 2011
NHTSA – Distracted Driving
Governors Highway Safety Association – Distracted Driving
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – Distracted Driving
World Health Organization – Mobile Phone Use: A Growing Problem of Driver Distraction
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – Distracted Driving at Work
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – Campaign Materials
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2021). Traffic Safety Facts Research Note: Distracted Driving 2019 (DOT HS 813 111) . Department of Transportation, Washington, DC: NHTSA. Accessed 8 February 2022.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2010). Overview of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Driver Distraction Program (DOT HS 811 299) [PDF – 36 pages] . U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC. Accessed 8 February 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System . Accessed 8 February 2022.
Yellman, M.A., Bryan, L., Sauber-Schatz, E.K., Brener, N. (2020). Transportation Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019 . MMWR Suppl, 69(Suppl-1),77–83.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Teen Driving . Accessed 8 February 2022.
Chaudhary, N.K., Connolly, J., Tison, J., Solomon, M., & Elliott, K. (2015). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Evaluation of the NHTSA Distracted Driving High-Visibility Enforcement Demonstration Projects in California and Delaware [PDF – 72 pages] (DOT HS 812 108) . U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC.
Chaudhary, N.K., Casanova-Powell, T.D., Cosgrove, L., Reagan, I., & Williams, A. (2012). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Evaluation of NHTSA Distracted Driving Demonstration Projects in Connecticut and New York [PDF – 80 pages] (DOT HS 811 635) . U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Motor Vehicle Injuries . Accessed 8 February 2022.
Venkatraman, V., Richard, C. M., Magee, K., & Johnson, K. (2021). Countermeasures that work: A highway safety countermeasures guide for State Highway Safety Offices, 10 th edition, 2020 (Report No. DOT HS 813 097) [PDF – 641 pages] . U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC.
Federal Highway Administration. (2011). Technical Advisory: Shoulder and Edge Line Rumble Strips (T 5040.39, Revision 1) [PDF – 9 pages] . Department of Transportation, Washington, DC: FHWA. Accessed 24 August 2020.

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Risky Driving

Distracted driving.

Drowsy Driving
Drug-Impaired Driving
Drunk Driving

Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 3,308 lives in 2022. NHTSA leads the national effort to save lives by preventing this dangerous behavior. Get the facts, get involved, and help us keep America’s roads safe.

Put the Phone Away or Pay

What is distracted driving, consequences, get involved.

NHTSA In Action
Take the Pledge

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

TRAFFIC SAFETY FACTS & DATA PUBLICATIONS

Using a cell phone while driving creates enormous potential for deaths and injuries on U.S. roads. In 2022, 3,308 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.

Educators and Employers

Educators and employers can play a part, too. Spread the word at your school or workplace about the dangers of distracted driving. Ask your students to commit to distraction-free driving or set a company policy on distracted driving.

Make Your Voice Heard

If you feel strongly about distracted driving, be a voice in your community by supporting local laws, speaking out at community meetings, and highlighting the dangers of distracted driving on social media and in your local op-ed pages.

NHTSA is dedicated to eliminating risky behaviors on our nation's roads

Nhtsa is dedicated to eliminating risky behaviors on our nation's roads.

NHTSA leads the fight nationally against distracted driving by educating Americans about its dangers and partnering with the states and local police to enforce laws against distracted driving that help keep us safe.

NHTSA’s campaigns and public service announcements make the case to Americans that safe driving means driving without distractions. You’ve likely seen or heard our public service announcements, but we’re also on Facebook and Twitter sharing stories and tips to help save lives.

The foundation of NHTSA’s efforts on distracted driving and other risky driving behaviors is our partnership with the states and local police. The states determine laws affecting distracted driving, but NHTSA provides federal investments in the locally driven strategies that address the states’ specific needs. One of the highlights of this relationship comes during April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month, which pairs a national advertising campaign with a law enforcement crackdown called Put the Phone Away or Pay.

Your state legislature and governor make the laws regarding distracted driving. Many states now have laws against texting, talking on a cell phone, and other distractions while driving. You can visit the Governors Highway Safety Association to learn about the laws in your state.

The fight to end distracted driving starts with you. Make the commitment to drive phone-free today.

Protect lives by never texting or talking on the phone while driving.
Be a good passenger and speak out if the driver in my car is distracted.
Encourage my friends and family to drive phone-free.

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The Dangers of Driving While Distracted

Car-crash fatalities are on the rise. whatever the solution, the time for action is now., sharing is nice.

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Five-year-old Moriah Modisette died one Christmas Eve after a distracted driver plowed into the back of her family's car on a Texas highway, according to police reports.

Garrett Wilhelm, 20 at the time, was accused of video chatting on his smartphone when traffic ahead of him slowed. The police say he didn't notice and slammed into the Modisettes' car at full speed. The force of the collision caused the car to spin, coming to rest facing the wrong direction in traffic.

The little girl was airlifted to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, says the police report of the 2014 incident. Her older sister, Isabella, 8, who was sitting next to her in the backseat, survived, as did her mother, Bethany, who was in the front passenger seat of the Toyota Camry. Moriah's father, James, in the driver's seat, was knocked unconscious and spared seeing the events that led to his daughter's death.

Wilhelm has a manslaughter charge pending against him because of the crash, in which his Toyota 4Runner landed in the highway median. A police officer found the video call still running on Wilhelm's iPhone.

The Modisettes didn't want to be interviewed for this article, but Greg Love, a lawyer for the family, spoke with CR. "Bethany and Moriah's older sister, Isabella, were conscious and perceived everything that happened inside that car," he said. Love also pointed out that at the time of the accident, there was no state ban in Texas on texting while driving. In May 2017 the first statewide distracted-driving law in the state was passed, and it took effect in September. It prohibits all texting and "electronic messaging" while driving.

Read How Distracted Are We? , Is There a Law for That? , How to Protect Yourself , and Protections We Want for You for more information.

Dangerous Choices

The latest statistics show that America's traffic deaths are rising. There are many reasons, including the fact that we're driving more miles. But some experts say that the marriage of automobiles and smartphones (with their growing menu of apps) is contributing to the danger, even for pedestrians and cyclists. Despite a decade of new laws and enforcement, and a flurry of public-safety campaigns, surveys have found that drivers still make the dangerous choice to text and drive or use their smartphones in other distracting ways.

Indeed, a nationally representative survey by Consumer Reports in October 2017 found that 41 percent of drivers with smartphones said they had used their hands to text while driving, and 8 percent admitted to watching a video on their phone while driving.

The Modisettes sued Apple, accusing the company of being at fault because it hadn't sufficiently warned people not to use its FaceTime app while driving. (The app allows video-to-video communication with another person also on an Apple smart device.) A judge threw out the case in May, ruling that the user of a smartphone is responsible for unsafe behavior, not the manufacturer. The case is on appeal.

Traffic fatalities on U.S. roads in 2016 increased to 37,461 , according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That's a 5.6 percent increase over 2015, after an 8.4 percent increase in 2014.

In 2016, 3,450 people were killed because of distracted driving, a 2.2 percent decline from 2015. Still, the number of distraction-related fatalities reported in 2016 was higher than in 2011. According to NHTSA, fatal distracted-driving crashes specifically involving cell-phone use increased to 14 percent (442) in 2015 from 12 percent (354) in 2011. And the percentage of distracted-driving-related crashes resulting in injuries that were linked to cell phones increased to 8 percent (21,000) in 2015 from 6 percent (15,000) in 2011. (A breakdown from NHTSA for 2016 isn't available yet.) Even these numbers don't fully reflect the potential scope of danger, safety advocates and the police say, because of the limits of law enforcement and the lack of adequate evidence proving that smartphone use or other distractions were the root cause of some crashes.

Distracted driving has also involved in-car infotainment systems and lower-tech driver activity, such as adjusting a radio or temperature control, talking to a passenger, or taking eyes off the road for any reason.

The automotive and tech industries are using technology designed to mitigate distracted-driving dangers. Many new vehicles have advanced safety features (often optional) such as automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist, which are recognized for their potential to help protect drivers and passengers.

Major smartphone manufacturers, wireless providers, and smaller tech companies have created various apps and services to prevent teens and adults from using smartphones while driving. But at the moment, the adoption and use of them rely largely on users choosing to opt in.

And until cars become fully autonomous, dangers will persist from those who choose to use smartphones while driving or become distracted by onboard infotainment systems.

"Unfortunately, in the short term, we actually could see greater risks because we will have a mix of autonomous, semi-autonomous, and manually driven cars," says Deborah Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "The transition is going to be a little bit of a messy middle."

The Rise of Connected Cars

General Motors first introduced its OnStar in-car connectivity in 1996. And the company claims it became the first automaker to introduce 4G LTE wireless across its entire retail platform in 2014. Since then, Chevrolet has sold nearly 2.5 million 4G OnStar LTE-connected vehicles.

These cellular connections power onboard WiFi hot spots that can be used by up to seven digital devices in a single vehicle.

Carmakers are adding high-speed internet connections and designing more sophisticated interfaces to serve customer demand for constant connectivity. But they're also working closely with Silicon Valley to integrate smartphones more deeply into the driving experience. Almost every automaker is now building Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support into new vehicles. These systems serve up a simplified smartphone-style interface on a dashboard screen, giving drivers the apps, controls, and voice assistants they're already familiar with.

Automakers say they're doing their best to balance the desire for technology with safe design. A Ford spokeswoman said in an email response to questions that it has "prioritized voice recognition as the interface for smartphone control while driving," because research "indicates that helping drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road is the most important factor in minimizing distractions."

A Toyota spokesman said in an email that customers want the company to "evolve and keep up with the latest" technology. He added that Toyota considers driver distraction during product development: "As part of our basic design processes, Toyota considers how all the systems we integrate into our vehicles will be used in the driving environment, with the goals of helping to optimize interactions with the driver while avoiding distractions."

At GM, as each infotainment feature is developed, engineers test and measure driver attention using a simulator, says Mike Hichme, the company's executive director of user experience. "We measure their eye movements," he explains. "They can't have glances of longer than 2 seconds away from the road for any one task."

If the test shows that a driver is confused by touch-screen controls or voice commands, the function is locked out after a certain period. Streaming video, game apps, web browsing, and social media messaging are prohibited on the touch screen, Hichme says.

The Human Toll

In September 2016, Mitchel Kiefer, an 18-year-old freshman at Michigan State University, died on a highway after an inattentive driver slammed into his car when traffic slowed. According to the police reports, the force of the collision pushed Kiefer's vehicle across a median and into oncoming traffic. His was the only fatality in the multivehicle wreck.

Twenty-one-year-old Kelley Renee Lange of Kalamazoo eventually pleaded guilty to a moving violation, receiving probation, community service, and a fine. According to an Ingham County assistant prosecutor, information from the event data recorder, or black box, in Lange's 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix indicated she was traveling at 81 mph with the accelerator depressed at impact. The prosecutor says the data suggested Lange may have been distracted. But because there was no evidence of her texting or using her phone at the time of the incident, prosecutors didn't have probable cause to secure a search warrant for her phone. It's unclear why she failed to slow down. Her lawyer didn't respond to requests for an interview.

It can be difficult to assess the true impact of driver distraction. Black-box data can provide clues, but it's rare for a witness or law-enforcement officer to directly see what's going on inside a vehicle. Even when there's evidence of distraction, it's not always documented. In a 2017 report, "Undercounted Is Underinvested: How Incomplete Crash Reports Impact Efforts to Save Lives," the National Safety Council found that many state crash-report forms don't have a field or code for many forms of distraction.

Kiefer's parents, Steve and Paula, his two sisters, and his brother decided to establish the Mitchel Kiefer Foundation, which is dedicated to battling driver distraction. The family works to get out the message that no one should text and drive or look away from the road for too long.

"What I've always said to the kids is that you can let a tragic event in your life basically destroy your life or you can use it to repurpose your life," Steve Kiefer says in a video. "We've all agreed we're going to try and use it to repurpose our lives and make something good of it, and hopefully save some other lives."

Kiefer speaks to groups about his son and the dangers of distraction. It helps that he's a senior vice president at General Motors, which lends credibility to the foundation's mission.

High-Tech Solutions

Some in the telecommunications industry have been addressing the issue of driver distraction. A range of small tech companies offer apps that can block text messages, email, social media sites, and even phone calls while drivers are underway.

Joe Breaux, chief technology officer of CellControl, which offers a combination of hardware and software that can block and monitor smartphone use inside a car, says his company follows the development guidelines of major smartphone manufacturers. "In many ways, they're partners, but what they're providing is different from what we're providing," he explains. "They are providing connectivity. The last thing they want to do is limit the use of their products or services."

Major wireless providers such as AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon also offer apps that can block text messages. This type of technology is often aimed at parents of teen drivers and employers.

Smartphone manufacturers are also using technology to address the problem. Samsung has an app called In-Traffic Reply that sends preset responses to messages received while the user is in motion. Apple's new iOS 11 system, introduced last fall, includes an optional Do Not Disturb While Driving feature that mutes incoming phone calls and text messages. There's an option to automatically send a message that you're driving and will respond later.

But none of this technology can stop a driver who doesn't want to use it. "All these systems are voluntary," says David Greenfield, founder of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction in West Hartford, Conn., and an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. "Ultimately, if it's voluntary it's not going to be useful. I want the phone completely disabled. I don't trust myself to not use it, and nobody else should either."

Greenfield stresses that smartphones can be habit-forming. "The addictive nature of the phone does not stop when we enter the vehicle," he says. "The more complex cars have become, the greater the distraction becomes."

In July 2017 Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York directed his Traffic Safety Committee to examine the viability of the "textalyzer," technology that can determine whether a cell phone was used right before a crash.

In 2012 NHTSA started rolling out its recommended guidelines aimed at reducing driver distraction. The first phase offered guidelines for automakers to design infotainment systems that minimize distraction, such as limiting the time a driver has to look away from the road.

The next phase, introduced in 2016, encouraged smartphone manufacturers to design features such as pairing and driver mode that can link phones to a vehicle's infotainment system. NHTSA's next phase is to address voice-activated controls and potential ways to reduce cognitive distraction, when a driver's mind is distracted from focusing on the road.

Some people hope that fully autonomous vehicles will solve the problem one day. But 3,400 people dying every year from distracted driving is too high a price to wait for better technology.

Who's Responsible?

Several product liability lawsuits aimed at Apple have resulted in rulings that the company wasn't to blame for unsafe driver behavior. At least two focused on Apple's patent for technology that can "lock out" or prevent the operation of smartphone functions while the user is driving. In one complaint, the family of three crash victims claimed that Apple's failure to develop the lockout idea was proof the company ignored the dangers of distracted driving and was liable.

According to that lawsuit, Ashley Kubiak was heading down a Texas highway in a Dodge Ram pickup as she allegedly checked messages on her iPhone. She rear-ended a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe, forcing it across the lane, where it was struck by a Ford F-250 pickup traveling in the opposite direction. The lawsuit said the accident killed the Tahoe driver and a passenger, and left a young child paralyzed. The court papers went on to say that Kubiak was convicted of criminally negligent homicide.

In August, U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III dismissed the case. The decisive passage from his ruling read: "When a driver negligently operates her vehicle because she is engaging in compulsive or addictive behaviors such as eating food, drinking alcohol, or smoking tobacco, it is the driver's negligence in engaging in those activities that causes any resulting injuries, not the cook's, distiller's, or tobacconist's supposed negligence in making their products so enticing."

In another case, Julio Ceja of Costa Mesa, Calif., filed a class-action complaint in California. Like the Texas case, it focused on Apple's failure to install a lockout device. When asked about the case, an Apple spokesman told CR: "We discourage anyone from allowing their iPhone to distract them by typing, reading, or interacting with the display while driving."

Facing the Human Factor

Hands-free phone operation is often touted by policymakers and others as the best available solution. Voice-activated infotainment, navigation, and other features are also widely available in later model vehicles.

Joel Feldman, a Philadelphia attorney whose 21-year-old daughter Casey was killed by a distracted driver in 2009, says he prefers that no one use a phone while driving. "But if I could snap my fingers today and compel that the only thing we could do with a phone in a car is talk hands-free, I'd take it in a second," he told CR. "I think about the people in these companies. Do they really want their children to use these products in this way?"

Still, David Strayer, a professor of cognition and neural science at the University of Utah, has researched hands-free systems and found they can be as dangerous as handheld smartphones because the brain can still be distracted from driving. He also says that some infotainment systems are more distracting than others, and supports clear regulatory guidelines.

"Texting and social media access are migrating to the car," Strayer says. "In some cases, in-vehicle systems are locking out social media for drivers and in others it is not. It's all over the map."

New laws, stepped-up enforcement, safety campaigns, and special apps might be making a gradual difference. But many safety advocates, including David Friedman of Consumers Union, the policy and mobilization division of Consumer Reports, think that progress has been mixed.

"Everyone needs to shift into a higher gear on the issue of driver distraction," Friedman says. "The Transportation Department should finalize distraction guidelines for devices such as smartphones, and the tech industry should support the DOT's efforts. Automakers and the government should accelerate the rollout of effective driver-monitoring systems of other technologies that can help ensure that drivers pay attention to the road."

Survey: How Distracted Are We?

Distracted driving is dangerous in traffic

Consumer Reports conducted a nationally representative phone survey to assess distracted-driver behavior and opinions about texting while driving. In the survey of 622 licensed drivers who own a smartphone, 52 percent admitted to engaging in distracting activities while driving.

What Are the Distractions? 41% use hands to send a text. 37% use hands to play music on a smartphone. 20% use hands to access a web browser or to compose, send, or read email. 8% watch videos on their phone while driving.

Who's the Most Distracted? Men are more likely than women to engage in distracting behavior; more than twice as many men watched a video. Millennials (18 to 36) and Gen Xers (37 to 52) were more likely than baby boomers to engage in distracting behavior.

When Is Texting Acceptable? 61% say only if they have a hands-free, voice-activated option. 34% say if it's an emergency. 24% say never.

Should Texting Be Prohibited? 88% say they favor states having restrictions on texting while driving.

Of those: 83% support a "total ban on texting while driving." 66% support a "requirement that all drivers use a message that automatically responds to incoming calls or texts." 36% support a "ban on texting while driving only for novice drivers." 30% support a "ban on incoming texts or calls if a smartphone is present in a moving car."

Who Should Do the Restricting? 100% support restrictions. 94% say the driver. 50% say the government.

How to Protect Yourself

Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at CR's Auto Test Center, offers these tips.

How to Protect Yourself From Yourself These common-sense habits should become as automatic as putting on your seat belt: • Once in your car, put your phone out of sight and out of reach so you're not tempted to use it. If you need to use a navigation app, use a dash mount so you don't have to take your hands off the steering wheel. • Take advantage of the in-car system if you have one. Most new cars offer voice commands for paired phones as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay interfaces that resemble your phone's screen. • Drop the earbuds. Some drivers use them to answer calls in cars that lack Bluetooth or for listening to music. That's not safe. • If you must regularly answer phone calls, invest in an aftermarket Bluetooth system. You can stay hands-free and keep your ears open. There are many options on Amazon.

How to Protect Yourself From Others Watch for erratic or inappropriate driving, and give those cars a wide berth. That includes: • A car that's veering from edge to edge inside a lane. • A car that's missing traffic cues, such as failing to accelerate when a light turns green, slows and speeds up in lane without logic, or rides the brakes. • A driver whose head is facing down toward his lap or the seat.

Is There a Law for That?

Many states have texting bans and other laws to combat distracted driving.

Text messaging: Forty-seven states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban texting behind the wheel, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Of the three states without a complete driver ban, two prohibit texting by inexperienced drivers. Montana is the only state without any ban on the books, the GHSA reports.

Handheld cell-phone use: Fifteen states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban handheld mobile phone use while driving. No state bans all cell-phone use for all drivers, but 38 states and Washington, D.C., ban cell-phone use by inexperienced drivers, and 20 states and D.C. prohibit it for school bus drivers, according to a GHSA analysis.

Does enforcement make a difference? The police conducted high-visibility enforcement campaigns in Syracuse, N.Y., and Hartford, Conn., in 2010 and 2011. These efforts were paid for, in part, by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The police in Syracuse used roving patrols to spot offenders, and Hartford police used a spotter technique with two patrol cars working together. The percentage of drivers observed to be texting or dialing in Hartford fell to 1.1 percent from 3.9 percent in a little more than a year. Drivers cited for texting tended to commit other violations, such as drifting across lanes or weaving, as a result of their distraction.

But the final report concluded that motorists were willing to continue texting while driving even while agreeing in surveys that the police should enforce texting restrictions.

"The laws have been successful in getting some drivers to put down their phones or switch to hands-free, but we haven't been able to find a corresponding effect in reduced crashes," said Russ Rader, a spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

An unintended consequence, says David Strayer, a University of Utah professor who studies distracted driving, is that "instead of holding the phone, drivers now place it in their lap or on a seat where it can't be seen."

Protections We Want for You

Driver distraction takes more than 3,400 lives a year on U.S. roads—and requires urgent action. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began rolling out driver-distraction guidelines in 2012. Consumer Reports believes industry and government should implement and build on these guidelines. Here's what that means:

Automakers Should . . . • Not include features that encourage drivers to take their eyes off the road for any significant amount of time. • Design built-in systems that disable distracting content from infotainment systems when a vehicle is in motion. • Ensure that "pairing" capabilities are easy to use. • Implement effective driver monitoring to warn drivers when they're not paying attention. • Make safety features that mitigate crashes standard in every new car.

Tech Companies Should . . . • Incorporate easy-to-use pairing capabilities and driver mode, a simplified interface, into devices. • Disable normal use of a phone while a vehicle is in motion.

Policymakers Should . . . • Update and finalize existing guidelines based on the most recent research and technology, and set new guidelines to address "cognitive" distraction (when a driver's mind is distracted from driving). • Warn the public when apps pose special distraction risks. • Put in place strong standards to accelerate the adoption of proven active safety features, which could save lives in all crashes.

Using a Cellphone in the Car

The best bet is to not use your phone when operating a car—but smartphone navigation and Bluetooth is a common feature nowadays. On the ' Consumer 101 ' TV show, CR expert Jen Stockburger shows host Jack Rico and friends how to stay safe while on the road.

Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the January 2018 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

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117 Distracted Driving Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best distracted driving topic ideas & essay examples, 🎓 good research topics about distracted driving, 💡 most interesting distracted driving topics to write about, ⭐ simple & easy distracted driving essay titles, ❓ questions about distracted driving.

Texting While Driving Should Be Illegal To begin with, it has been observed from recent studies that have been conducted that majority of American citizens are in complete agreement that texting while one is driving should be banned as it is […]
Banning Phone Use While Driving Will Save Lives For instance, a driver may receive a phone call or make one, and while tending to the call, takes his mind of the road and increasing the chances of causing an accident. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
Dangers of Texting while Driving The research paper will present some statistics to prove that texting while driving is one of the biggest contributors of road accidents in American roads.
Road Rage and the Possibilities of Slow Driving There is also a need for people to plan their daily activities early and give some time allowance to the expected driving time.
Drinking and Driving: The Negative Effects The combination of drinking and driving is dangerous and characterized by such effects as physiological changes, problems with the law, and innocent victims. One of the main effects of drinking and driving is the increase […]
Age Limitation on Driving Privileges Thus, the increase in the level of accidents has forced the state to consider whether age is among the factors that have led to the increase in cases accidents.
Public Service Announcement and Distracted Driving To conclude, PSAs help to reduce the amount of distracted driving occurrences. As a result, public service announcements should be utilized to raise public awareness of the hazards of distracted driving and assist save lives.
Driving in the Winter and in the Summer To conclude, winter and summer driving are comparable in practices of handling the vehicle but are associated with contrasting dangers. In the summer, the temperature is higher, leading to the expansion of tires, and there […]
Safe Driving and Use of Cellphones in Cars In conclusion, it is recommended that all drivers have a cell phone in the car to assist with emergencies, navigation, and reporting crime.
Substance Abuse and Driving Under Influence The list of felonies consists of possession of substances, possession of ammunition with marijuana and the distribution of substances. This way, a person would be able to enhance their well-being and the state of mental […]
Dangerous Driving Case: Description, Investigation, Judicial Process, and Results The court maintained that the offense in the case was a statutory offense that implied the dangerous driving of the accused, whose eventuality resulted in the death of the woman victim.
Anti-Drink Driving Intervention Plan Overall, the ultimate goal of this paper lies in identifying key tasks that would be undertaken at all stages of the social marketing intervention planning process and evaluating the potential success of the plan.
Developing Strategic Plan for TLC Commission Future Self-Driving Cars A SWOT analysis of the issue would reveal that not many would trust the safety of self-driving cars. The research would be of much help as it would reveal that self-driving cars are not that […]
Self-Driving Technologies and Supply Chain Management Due to the large-scale implementation of such technologies, the whole transportation system will be changed. Self-driving technologies can significantly improve the development of the transportation industry.
Mobile Phone Use and Driving: Modelling Driver Distraction Effects Therefore, in order to increase attention during driving and improve the reaction to road events, it is advisable to prohibiting hand-held phone use while driving in all 50 states.
Tougher Punishment for Texting While Driving However the Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging reported that texting while driving is a greater distraction than talking to others due to the time eyes are away from the road and the amount of cognitive […]
Persuading People Not to Text While Driving It is believed that the main reasons for the growing number of car accidents and deaths on the roads is the development of new technologies and, as a result, the irresponsible driving of individuals who […]
The Use of Mobile Phone While Driving a Car The purpose of the study was to explore the effects of drivers’ use of mobile phones on the risk of a crash.
Addressing a Problem of Elderly Driving The authors claim that there are two possible ways to address the issue of elderly driving: developing social programs and integrating modern technology. These actions will be beneficial to the safety of older individuals and […]
Regulations on Multitasking While Driving Consequently, safe and effective driving is a task that demands concentration by the driver, and multi-tasking while driving should be discouraged and avoided for safety.
Cell Phones While Driving: Is It Legal? The message conveyed over the phone takes priority and driving takes a back seat which inevitably results in an accident, the severity of the same depends on more factors than one, the most important of […]
Local Crisis: Teenage Driving Fatalities in Alabama It was reported in the reader’s digest of the 2008 August edition that out of 50 states, Alabama had the 4th highest rate of deaths at 39.
Cause and Effect of Teenagers Crazy Driving They have to acknowledge that they are the childhood role model for the kids and this includes being the indirect driving teacher of the child.
Cell Phone Use and Driving: Mian vs. City of Ottawa However, the judge considers the disclosure of the disciplinary records to be irrelevant to the case. However, the Crown specifically stated that the disclosure of these records is not relevant to the case without O’Connor’s […]
Cell Phone Use While Driving: Policy Analysis Therefore, in a public policy debate, proponents of regulation would argue that per capita healthcare savings and resulting QALY measures are significant enough to justify a ban on the use of private cellphones in driving […]
Safe Driving Among American Youth as Health Issue It reviews the organization’s perspective on the issue and the strategies it proposes to reduce the risks of car accidents. The paper concentrates on safe driving for young people, summarizing the National Safety Council’s position […]
Cell Phone Use in Driving and Recommended Policies Auditory, when on phone, drivers shift their focus to the sound of the phone instead of listening to the adjoining atmosphere on the road.
Outcomes of the Phone Usage While Driving To the end of their lives, neither the victims’ loved ones nor the driver will be able to cope with the tragedy that resulted. The assertion that driving and texting or talking on the phone […]
Driving Under the Influence: US Policies Driving under the influence is known to be one of the most threatening tendencies in the world of nowadays. One of the most common policies provided in order to decrease the risk of drunken driving […]
Impacts of Texting While Driving on the Accidents The development of technologies used by adolescents for texting while driving leads to increasing the rates of accidents. Hypothesis: The development of technologies used by adolescents for texting while driving leads to increasing the rates […]
The New Application “Stop Texting and Driving App” The application installed in the driver’s smartphone will disable every function when the vehicle is in motion. The device and the application have more features in order to reduce the rate of having an accident.
Technology Development and Texting while Driving Working thesis: Although certain modern gadgets can be used to avoid texting while driving, the development of the sphere of mobile technologies has the negative impact on the dangerous trend of messaging while driving a […]
Distracted Driving Behaviors in Adults The article notes that the results of the study highlighted the dangers of DDB other than texting and using cell phones.
The South Dakota Legislature on Texting and Driving According to the authors of the article, the South Dakota Legislature needs to acknowledge the perils of texting and driving and place a ban on the practice.
Injury Prevention Intervention: Driving Injury in Young People According to Gielen and Sleet study, the trends indicate that despite the preventive measures, the likelihood for young people involved in injuries is increasing. The collective objectives are to reduce the probability of young people […]
Effects of Ageing Population as Driving Force Positive effects Negative effects An increased aging population will lead to a bigger market for goods and services associated with the elderly.
Cognitive Psychology on Driving and Phone Usage For this reason, it is quite difficult to multitask when the activities involved are driving and talking on the phone. Holding a phone when driving may cause the driver to use only one hand for […]
Banning Texting while Driving Saves Lives Other nations have limited use of phones, by teenagers, when driving, and a rising number of states and governments have prohibited the exact practice of texting while driving.
Saving Lives: On the Ban of Texting While Driving To achieve the goals of the objectives proposed above, a comprehensive case study needs to be conducted on the risks of texting while driving and how the prohibition of the act will save lives.
A Theoretical Analysis of the Act of Cell Phone Texting While Driving The past decade has seen the cell phone become the most common communication gadget in the world, and the US has one of the highest rates of cell phone use.
Drivers of Automobiles Should Be Prohibited From Using Cellular Phones While Driving When a driver is utilizing a hand-held or hands-free cellular phone at the same time as driving, she or he should dedicate part of their concentration to operating the handset and sustaining the phone discussion […]
Should People Be Banned From Using Cell Phones When Driving? Why or Why Not? Many people have blamed the cell phones to the current high increases in the number of road accidents witnessed worldwide, while others argue that the use of mobile phones while driving is not wholly to […]
Problem of the Elderly Driving in the US When comparing the survey results to accumulated scientific data as well as statistics on the number of vehicular accidents involving the elderly it can be seen that the respondents were unaware of the potential danger […]
The Dangers of Using Cell Phone While Driving The authors further note the subsequent increase in the count of persons conversing on cell phones while driving unaware of the risks they pose to themselves and their passengers.
An Analysis of the Use of Cell Phones While Driving The first theory is the theory of mass society, and the second theory is the theory of the culture industry. The theory of mass society states that, popular culture is an intrinsic expression of the […]
Popular Culture: The Use of Phones and Texting While Driving Given that rituals and stereotypes are a part of beliefs, values, and norms that society holds at a given instance of history, the use of phones in texting while driving has rituals and stereotypes associated […]
The Use of the Cell Phone While Driving Indeed, many of the culprits of this dangerous practice are teens and the youth, ordinarily the most ardent expressers of popular culture in a society.
Theta and Alpha Oscillations in Attentional Interaction During Distracted Driving
Car Accidents and Distracted Driving
The Pros and Cons of Distracted Driving
Societal Crisis and Distracted Driving
Texting and Driving Accident Statistics – Distracted Driving
Major Safety Issue: Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving Should Not Be Banned
Making Laws Against Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving Regulation and Education
Prevent Distracted Driving
The Problem Distracted Driving Creates
Distracted Driving and Highway Fatalities
Cell Phones and the Dangers of Distracted Driving
Texting and Driving: Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving: Increase in Cell Phone Related Fatalities
Cause and Effect: Non-distracted Driving and Distracting Driving
Distracted Driving Involving Cell Phones
The Most Dangerous Type of Distracted Driving
Accidents and Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving and Doing Another Activity
The Primary Factors Contributing to the Problem of Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving Prevention: Texting or Handheld Cellphone Use While Driving
Attention and Distracted Driving
The Dangers of Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving and Its Effects on Safety
Motor Vehicle Safety: Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving While Using Handheld Electronic Device
Mobile Communication and Local Information Flow: Evidence From Distracted Driving Laws
Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2011
Texting While Driving: The Development and Validation of the Distracted Driving Survey and Risk Score Among Young Adults
Causes, Impacts and Prevention Strategies of Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving: The Danger of the Technological Age
Distracted Driving: How Badly Does Cell Phone Use Affect Drivers
Opposing Perspectives and Solutions of Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving: The Preventable Killer
The Facts About Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving Bans Should Be Stronger
The Cautionary Measures Against Distracted Driving Proposed by the State
Distracted Driving and Dangerous Being Distracted While Driving
What Are the Causes of Distracted Driving?
What Is the Harm of Mobile Phones in Distracted Driving?
What Are the Consequences of Distracted Driving?
Should Distracted Driving Bans Be Stronger?
What Are the Strategies to Prevent Distracted Driving?
What Is the Act to Prevent Distracted Driving?
How to Regulate Distracted Driving?
Are Distracted Driving Fatalities Increasing?
What Are Two Major Issues That Can Cause Distracted Driving?
How Are Distracted Driving Laws Made?
What Are the State Proposed Distracted Driving Precautions?
What Is the Most Dangerous Type of Distracted Driving?
What Are the Main Contributing Factors to the Problem of Distracted Driving?
Why Has Distracted Driving Become a Societal Crisis?
What Are Signs of a Distracted Driver?
What Is an Example of a Mental Distraction Driving?
What Types of Drivers Are More Susceptible to Distractions?
Distracted Driving: How to Drive Safely?
Does Distracted Driving Threaten the Safety of Not Only the Driver?
How Many Accidents Are Caused by Distracted Driving?
How to Learn Not to Be Distracted From Driving?
What Issues Are Discussed at the Distracted Driving Summit?
How Does Media Influence Distracted Driving?
What Are the Opposing Views and Solutions to Distracted Driving?
What Age Group Drives Distracted the Most?
What Is the Most Dangerous Kind of Distracted Driving?
How Many Highway Collisions Are Caused by Distracted Drivers?
Can Fear Behind the Wheel Distract From Driving?
How Many Americans Have Died From Distracted Driving?
What Are Theta and Alpha Oscillations in the Interaction of Attention During Distracted Driving?
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Ann Adv Automot Med
v.58; 2014 Mar

Distracted driving: What is the state of the science, and what are our knowledge gaps?

Introduction.

In recent years the topic of driver distraction has generated considerable attention as a traffic safety concern. But it is not a new phenomenon. Early in America’s driving history there was debate, as car radios were first being introduced, about whether they should be banned because of the potential to distract drivers ( Novak, 2013 ). Legislators in a number of states proposed fining drivers, while other states suggested that criminalizing installation would help keep drivers safe. The legislation was not enacted and a study on the topic found no relationship between listening to the radio and car crashes ( Novak, 2013 ). Since that time people have found many more ways to divert attention away from the driving task, such as reading maps, books and newspapers, shaving, brushing teeth, putting on make-up, eating and drinking, and gazing at distractions outside the vehicle, to name but a few. More recently, the prominence of distracted driving as a traffic safety concern was elevated to a top priority of the Department of Transportation by the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, as concerns grew about the proliferation of in-vehicle connectivity and mobile “infotainment” devices that increasingly are being used during driving. Much of this attention has focused on the use of electronic devices, not surprising given their dramatic growth, but evidence from naturalistic driving studies, in which drivers are monitored while they are driving, suggests distracted driving results from many different activities. Moreover, the problem of distracted driving is not likely to go away with the ever expanding opportunities for staying in touch while driving.

The purpose of this special issue is to assemble the latest research on driver distraction to determine what we currently know and what we need to know, which form the basis of recommendations about future research needs. The authors were brought together as part of the Engaged Driving Initiative (EDI) Expert Panel created by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm®). This effort was administered by the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM) and chaired by Susan A. Ferguson, PhD. The Expert Panel members, all of whom are recognized experts in the field of distracted driving research and policy, bring to the table a wide range of expertise. Each panel member was asked to summarize the state of the art in their respective areas of expertise and to point to the most important questions that still need to be addressed along with research methods to answer them.

WHAT IS DISTRACTED DRIVING AND HOW DO WE MEASURE IT?

In the opening paper of the series, Michael Regan, PhD, with the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, and David Strayer, PhD, University of Utah, address the key issue of what driver distraction is and how we define it. Although there is little agreement in the literature about the terms “driver inattention” and “driver distraction,” the authors take the view that the overarching topic of interest is driver inattention with driver distraction being just one of the processes that can give rise to it. They present a taxonomy of driver inattention that was developed by Regan and others from in-depth examination of real-world crashes and contrast it with one developed from a theoretical perspective. The results of a recent study to validate the Regan et al. taxonomy using real-world crash data also are presented. Research recommendations are aimed at validating the taxonomy and better understanding the categories of inattention and their impact on driving performance, crash type, and crash risk.

The second paper, authored by Daniel McGehee, PhD, University of Iowa, discusses the important issue of measurement. As Dr. McGehee points out, given the numerous sources of distraction, the measurement of attention and distraction is necessarily complex. He describes a series of metrics that can be used in tightly-controlled, experimental settings to measure two general categories of distraction; visual and cognitive. The ultimate goal of such measurements is to help identify interfaces that are visually and cognitively demanding. Dr. McGehee points to the future need of driver metrics to go beyond measurement of task load to measure how drivers self-regulate when they choose to be distracted.

In the next paper, Donald Fisher, PhD, University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Dr. David Strayer provide a model of the relationship between crash risk and a driver’s situation awareness. Driver’s situation awareness is considered as reflective of the dynamic mental model of the driving environment and is dependent upon several psychological processes including Scanning the driving environment, Predicting and anticipating hazards, Identifying objects in the driving scene, Deciding on an action, and Executing an appropriate Response (SPIDER). An Order-of-Processing (OP) model makes explicit the SPIDER-relevant processes and how they predict the likelihood of a crash when the driver is or is not distracted by a secondary task.

Many of the experimental studies that have examined the relationship between distraction and driving performance have used a methodology in which drivers are asked to undertake secondary tasks while driving (often in simulated driving environments) and the associated effects on driving performance are measured. John Lee, PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison makes the point that this approach largely ignores how drivers decide whether to engage in secondary tasks while driving and under what conditions they engage and disengage from driving. In this regard, the effects of distraction may be very sensitive to timing with respect to roadway and other demands. In other words, the effect of distraction on performance may be as much about when drivers perform tasks, as it is about what task drivers perform. He makes the point that driving does not always demand full attention and much of the time it does not receive full attention. Thus, lack of full attention does not always compromise driving performance. Dr. Lee talks about the implications for automated driving technology which may allow drivers to disengage from the driving task but also require them to re-engage as conditions change. The paper concludes with implications for design, evaluation, and research.

PREVALENCE OF DRIVER DISTRACTION AND CRASH RISK

The next two papers provide a review of the literature on prevalence and risks of driving while distracted employing different sources of data. Each source of data has its strengths and limitations, but in comparing estimates from a variety of sources it is possible to arrive at a more robust understanding of the variation in such estimates. In the first paper, Linda Angell, PhD, Touchstone Evaluations, Inc. discusses the various methodologies that have been used to measure distracted driving prevalence and risk, their strengths and limitations. Dr. Angell makes the case that combining the various methodologies, what she terms convergence science, can allow a better understanding of these issues than any one single approach. When different sources of data are considered together consistent patterns often emerge. The paper goes on to compare prevalence and risk of distracted driving using data from studies that use non-naturalistic driving data.

The second paper, authored by Thomas Dingus, PhD, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, discusses prevalence and risk associated with distraction based upon naturalistic driving data, wherein drivers are monitored throughout their daily driving providing continuous records of their driving for extended periods of time. This method captures information about driver behavior right before a crash or near crash occurs. The frequency of secondary task behavior and the associated risk for safety-critical incidents are estimated for three populations of drivers (i.e., adults, light vehicle; teenagers, light vehicle; and adults, heavy vehicle). Relative risk estimates provide insight into the risk associated with engaging in a variety of single tasks. When combining frequency of use with risk estimates, it is possible to identify those secondary tasks that create the greatest overall risk to driving safety. There have been a number of estimates, using diverse sources of data, of the relative crash risk associated with various distracting activities. These estimates are not always in agreement. Both papers point to the need for additional research, using a variety of data sources, to better understand the magnitude of these crash risks. The database from the recent Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) Naturalistic Driving study, available in mid-2014, will contain a much larger number of crashes and near crashes than has been available in the past and will allow more robust studies of prevalence and crash risk from secondary task behavior.

TEENAGE DRIVERS: A SPECIAL CASE?

Teenage drivers are a special group when it comes to driving risk. The combination of their inexperience and immaturity leads to crash rates that are much higher than those of older, more experienced drivers. This has led to driving laws for younger, beginning drivers that impose different requirements on them, for example, graduated licensing and zero tolerance laws. In that regard, distracted driving is no different. Dennis Durbin, MD, with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and his co-authors, Dr. Daniel McGehee, Dr. Donald Fisher, and Anne McCartt, PhD, with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, review these special considerations as they pertain to distracted driving among teenage drivers, including the widespread prevalence of mobile device use by teens, their lack of driving experience, the influence of peer passengers as a source of distraction, the role of parents in influencing teens’ attitudes and behaviors relevant to distracted driving and the impact of laws designed to prevent mobile device use by teen drivers. They conclude with recommendations for research in the specific areas they have identified.

LAWS AND ENFORCEMENT

Strong laws with publicized strong enforcement are a proven countermeasure for changing driver behavior. As distracted driving has increased with the proliferation of electronic devices, federal and state governments have responded primarily with policies and laws that target different aspects of cell phone use such as talking on the phone and texting. Cathy Chase, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, summarizes the evolution of state and federal governmental actions to address this public health problem and points to additional steps that could be taken in the areas of law enactment and federal regulation. She also summarizes the findings of a number of public opinion polls which point to a high level of support for such laws, particularly bans on texting while driving.

A critical requirement when states pass laws aimed at changing driver behavior is to evaluate whether these laws have been successful in affecting behavior and crash risk. In the final expert panel paper Dr. Anne McCartt, David Kidd, PhD, and Eric Teoh, MS, of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, review the research evidence regarding effectiveness of these laws with respect to reducing the frequency of phone use and crash rates. They also point to the challenges inherent in conducting such research in light of the large variations in the laws themselves, the difficulties of observing the targeted behaviors, and the inadequacy of the data on driver cell phone use prior to a crash. They make the case for additional research aimed at better understanding the crash risk associated with distracted driving and evaluations of cellphone bans, including a fuller range of the effects of bans on behavior, such as the type of phone use (e.g., texting, conversation), phone type (e.g., hands-free, hand-held), or circumstances of use (e.g., stationary vehicle, moving vehicle).

FUTURE CHALLENGES

Given the burgeoning use of cell phones, and especially smart phones, across the U.S. population, extensive research has been undertaken to understand the performance decrements that could result from cell phone use while driving, as well as the prevalence of use and associated crash risks. Recent naturalistic driving studies have shown that cell phone use is just one of a number of secondary tasks that drivers engage in while driving, and may not be the most prevalent. As a result, researchers stress the importance of considering the range of behaviors that result in distraction while driving, not just cell phone use. As well, the landscape of potential in-vehicle distractions is constantly shifting. Crash avoidance safety features that warn drivers of unsafe behaviors or impending hazards are becoming more widespread in the vehicle fleet (e.g., lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, forward collision warning systems). Such systems are designed to alert drivers to unsafe situations and sometimes take avoidance measures if hazards are detected. Such systems offer potential safety benefits, but there is also the potential for drivers’ attention to be diverted away from the driving task as they juggle the various inputs from these technologies. Some of these systems can take action on behalf of the driver, potentially allowing the driver to disengage from the driving task. On top of that there is a growth in in-vehicle connectivity and mobile infotainment devices that allow drivers to access messages, emails, texts, and internet services. These trends in vehicle safety technology and infotainment systems make the challenge of keeping drivers engaged in the driving task an increasingly important research, design, and policy issue. It will be critical to understand the risks and benefits of such systems, and whether they ameliorate or exacerbate the frequency or outcomes of distracted driving. A major theme emerging from the panel discussions and papers as discussed by Dr. Lee in this special edition, is that perhaps we should be focusing less on the sources of distraction and more on understanding why and under what circumstances drivers choose to disengage from the driving task. As Dr. McGehee points out, given the ever-increasing exposure to electronic devices in the vehicle which paradoxically has been accompanied by a declining U.S. crash rate, understanding and measuring this distraction-crash puzzle will be central to the future of distraction measurement.

Acknowledgments

This paper was written as part of the Engaged Driving Initiative (EDI) created by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm®). The EDI Expert Panel was administered by the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM) and chaired by Susan Ferguson, Ph.D., President, Ferguson International LLC.

Novak M. Distracted drivers are nothing new. 2013. Pacific Standard, February 13, 2013. Available online at http://www.psmag.com/blogs/time-machine/the-1930s-battle-over-car-radios-and-distracted-driving-52823/ (Accessed 21 October 2013)

Distracted Driving - Free Essay Samples And Topic Ideas

Distracted driving involves any activity that diverts attention from driving, such as talking or texting on your phone, eating, or using in-car entertainment systems. Essays on distracted driving could explore the prevalence and consequences of this behavior, the effectiveness of existing laws and regulations, and the role of technology in both contributing to and mitigating distracted driving. Moreover, discussions might cover educational campaigns and policy recommendations to curb distracted driving. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Distracted Driving you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Dangers of Distracted Driving

In this day in age many millennials dont consider the risks of texting and driving in fact not a ton of people consider the risks of texting and driving in this day in age. statistics have been compiled in recent years display that every day in the u.s. 9 people die because they use their phone while driving and over 1 153 are injured in distracted driver crashes that is daily meaning texting and driving is one of the most […]

An End to Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is putting not just the driver that is doing this at risk, but also our lives. Many of us have witnessed drivers being so distracted that they go over the lines. Something must be done in order for innocent people lives not to be in danger and to make the roads safer. According to the DMV, the Florida law is enforced as a secondary offense, which means that you cannot be pulled over for texting while driving. You […]

Why you shouldn’t Text and Drive

I. Attention Material (focus attention on problem): Imagine you are running late to this class, you get in your car and head down the gateway. You aren't driving that fast, maybe 45 miles per hour, and you are lucky that there aren't really any vehicles on the road. Your phone dings, and you grab it and glance at the screen. It is your friend asking if you want to go to lunch today. You go to send a short reply. […]

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Distracted Driving: Motor Vehicle Safety

“The CDC estimates each day in the United States, approximately 9 people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.” (“Distracted Driving| Motor Vehicle Safety| CDC Injury Center”, n.d.) Distracted driving is defined as the operation of a motor vehicle while engaging in any another activity that diverts attention away from the road. One needn’t look far to find a distracted driver. Simply glance to the left, right or in the […]

Distracted by Technology while Driving

In today's technology filled world, it is not uncommon to be driving down the road and look to your left or right and see a driver holding their cell phone. They may be taking a call or responding to a text, however either one of these activities are an unsafe measure in a moving vehicle. Cell phones have taken over the twenty first century and are continuing to improve in technological features. These features cause more distraction for drivers on […]

Tips on how to Get Driving License and Become a Good Driver

Driving is the coordinated operation of mind and body for the movement of a vehicle, such as a car, truck, or bus. Driving, being considered as an everyday activity for most people still has an issue of driver safety. Over the 20 years from 1980 to 2000, the number of licensed drivers in the U.S. has increased 23.7%, from about 154.0 million to 190.6 million. Total annual mileage traveled annually in the U.S. increased 28.9% from 1990 to 2000 and […]

Bad Drivers

Individuals have fluctuating abilities with regards to driving, yet many fit into one of two significant classifications: the great drivers and the awful drivers. Great drivers are respectful out and about, comply with the transit regulations, and are not quickly drawn offtrack while driving. A decent driver will wave another driver by when the two of them pull up to a four-way stop simultaneously. They won't unnecessarily speed, however they won't drive more slow than the progression of traffic so […]

Disconnected at the Wheel: the Hazards of Distraction in Driving

In the modern era, as technology seamlessly integrates into our daily lives, the term "disconnected" takes on a paradoxical meaning when applied to driving. Rather than signifying a break from the digital world, it points to the perilous act of being disconnected from the road due to various distractions. This essay explores the hazards of distraction while driving, shedding light on the multifaceted challenges and potential solutions. At the heart of the issue is the prevalence of technological distractions, with […]

The Silent Epidemic: Understanding and Combating Distracted Driving

In the fast-paced, technologically-driven world we inhabit, the roadways have become a stage for a silent epidemic that claims lives daily: distracted driving. The ubiquity of smartphones, in-car entertainment systems, and the constant allure of digital connectivity have transformed our vehicles into potential danger zones. The need to understand and combat this perilous issue is more pressing than ever. Distracted driving takes many forms, with the most notorious culprit being the use of mobile devices while behind the wheel. Whether […]

Distraction Behind the Wheel: a Roadblock to Safety

In the fast-paced rhythm of modern life, our highways have become not just conduits of travel but also stages for a dangerous dance with distraction. Picture this: a driver, entangled in the web of connectivity, swerves into the abyss of multitasking, leaving behind a trail of shattered moments and fractured lives. This narrative unfolds not just as a cautionary tale but as a call to arms against the silent assassin known as distracted driving. The allure of connectivity, manifested in […]

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Distracted Driving, Essay Example

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Technology has penetrated almost every aspect of our personal and professional lives. But even among modern technologies, some have shaped our lives to a greater extent than others. If we ask people what is one modern technology they cannot live without, many will answer ‘cell phone’. I have smart phone and I cannot imagine a life without smart phone but I also believe maximum benefit of any technology requires responsible user habits. There are few aspects of cell phone that concern me as much as its use while driving. I am not oblivious to the fact that cell phones such as smart phones have tremendous productivity potential but even the most important business task cannot justify cell phone use while driving, let alone personal reasons. I propose complete legal ban on cell phone use while driving because it will yield tremendous economic and social benefits for American society.

Laws are usually made because their expected benefits to the society usually yield the potential costs. For example, drinking is not illegal in the U.S. for as long as one meets the minimum age criterion. But even the legal right to drinking doesn’t come without certain restrictions even though some may argue that such restrictions infringe upon one’s right to freedom of speech. For example, public intoxication may result in fines or prison time and the penalty may be even stiffer for driving under the influence. In the same way, cell phone use while driving also merit legal ban because the benefits of a legal ban may far exceed any potential costs to the society. The government has an obligation to advance the overall interests of the society and ban on cell phone use while driving help the government achieve this goal. The cost of distracted driving as a result of cell phone use is so huge it is estimated that distracted driving due to factors such as cell phone use cost the U.S. economy as much as $170 billion in 2010 (Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association). Thus, it is clear ban on cell phone while driving would be justified because of the tremendous benefits to the American society.

Cell phone use should be banned while driving because there are strong ethical grounds for it. As citizens of the society, we are not only responsible to ourselves but to others as well. There is a reason we cannot smoke in many public places or cannot drink and drive because doing so unjustly put innocent people at risk. Distracted driving falls in the same area because we do not only endanger ourselves but also put others at risk whether they are fellow drivers on the road, cyclists, or pedestrians. A nationwide study found that 1,500 pedestrians were injured due to cell phone-related distracted driving in 2010 and pedestrian injuries have doubled since 2005. Study author Jack Nasar also predicted that the number of injuries may again double between 2010 and 2015 unless the trend is reversed (Nasar, 2013). Thus, cell phone use while driving should be banned because the offenders unjustly impose economic and social costs on their fellow citizens which is unethical.

It is a common knowledge that cell phone use makes driving a dangerous task and policy makers in the U.S. have not been oblivious to this fact. 14 U.S. states and D.C. ban cell phone use by all drivers and 38 states and D.C. ban cell phone use by novice drivers while driving. Texting while driving is considered even more dangerous task than oral communication on cell phone as 44 states and D.C. ban text messaging for all drivers (Governors Highway Safety Association, 2015). The danger of cell phone use while driving has also been recognized in many other countries. Some of the countries that have laws governing cell phone use while driving include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom (Insurance Information Institute, 2014). The fact that so many countries including the U.S. have driving laws that discourage and/or prohibit cell phone is an affirmation of the fact that distracted driving is a major issue with significant implications for the society.

Every generation has a responsibility to set good examples for future generations and by banning cell phone use while driving, we set good examples for our children and for future generations. When adults use cell phone while driving, they set bad examples for the younger generation who usually have poor understanding of risk and, thus, take cues from the adults regarding behavioral norms. Thus, we should not use cell phone while driving even if no ban exists because it would set wrong message to young people that it is ok to use cell phone while driving.

Some people tell me they are efficient at multi-tasking and can easily manage both driving and cell phone use at the same time. They are claim it may happen to someone but not them as their driving record shows. I remind them that not even a single person who lost his/her life due to cell phone use while driving expected the worst thing to happen to them because if anyone did, they would never have used cell phone while driving. Many people don’t realize but we often overestimate our ability to multitask. A 2008 study at the University of Utah found that cell phone use results in poor understanding of the changing traffic conditions. Another study at the University of Utah found that cell phone users may have even slower reaction times than those driving under the influence. Probably the best argument to refute claim one can multitask while driving is that cell phone users are four times more likely to be involved in a car crash than non-phone users (National Safety Council). Driving is a full-time job in which we cannot afford even a slight distraction due to the huge costs involved. Anyone who claims he can use cell phone while also driving responsibly severely overestimates his multitasking abilities and is a grave danger to not only himself but also everyone else on the road.

Opponents of the law, that prohibits texting while driving, claim that such laws infringe on one’s freedom(Swartsell, 2012). Such an argument may not be wrong but critics fail to realize that rights are rarely absolute. The government has a vested interest in advancing the overall interests of the society and laws that yield greater benefits than costs are justified. Laws that prohibit smoking in public places also infringe on one’s freedom but such laws are necessary because of costs such as secondhand smoking and air quality. Similarly, businesses may be prevented from discriminating against certain cultural groups even though it certainly infringes upon their right to choose who to serve and who not to serve. Laws against cell phone use while driving are justified even if they may infringe on one’s freedom because such laws advance society’s overall interests.

I propose nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving because America will be better off with such a policy. Cell phone ban will help the nation reduce road fatalities, direct and indirect economic costs such as healthcare costs and loss of productivity, and create better society for young people as well as future generations. The laws already exist in several U.S. states as well as in other countries which shows they are necessary and yield tremendous benefits. Critics may argue such laws infringe upon one’s freedom but rights are rarely absolute and government has responsibility advance society’s overall interests.

Governors Highway Safety Association. (2015, February). Distracted Driving Laws . Retrieved February 15, 2015. Web.

Insurance Information Institute. (2014, November). Distracted Driving . Retrieved February 15, 2015. Web.

Nasar, J. (2013, June 19). Distracted Walking: Injuries Soar for Pedestrians on Phones . Retrieved February 15, 2015. Web.

National Safety Council. (n.d.). The Great Multitasking Lie . Retrieved February 15, 2015. Web.

Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. (n.d.). Cost of Auto Crashes & Statistics . Retrieved February 15, 2015. Web.

Swartsell, N. (2012, October 27). Cities Disagree on Texting-Driving Ban . Retrieved February 15, 2015. Web.

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Texting While Driving Essay Examples

Why is texting while driving dangerous.

Put simply, texting and driving are dangerous because texting diverts your attention away from the road. Although many people argue that texting only takes your eyes off the road for a few seconds, what they don’t realize is that in that few seconds, something unexpected could happen. Additionally, if you’re traveling at high rates of speed, you can travel significant distances in just a few seconds. Those few seconds that you are on your phone could be used to hit the breaks or swerve out of the way of a quickly approaching article. If your eyes are on your phone instead of on the road, you lose valuable time that could have been used to mitigate an accident.

How do you Break the Habit of Texting While Driving?

One of the best ways to stop yourself from texting while driving is to create a habit that will keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. For many people who rely on their phones for so much, this may seem like a difficult task. However, if you think about it, there are several things that you do habitually when driving a car that you don’t even think about, such as putting on a seatbelt or locking your car after you park it. The key is to incorporate putting your phone away as part of those routines. In that way, you’re not so much breaking the habit of texting and driving, but instead, creating new habits that prevent you from using your phone while in the car.

Making a new habit can be challenging. The key is to stay consistent and continually remind yourself of your goal until it becomes second nature. Try attaching a sticky note to the wheel of your car to remind yourself to not text and drive. Another good trick is to make a pact with a friend to help keep each other accountable. It is important to stick with your habit, not give in to temptation and always keep in the back of your mind the benefits of staying focused on the road and not driving while distracted.

The most ideal habit you can build is to simply turn your phone off when you get in the car. That way there is never any sort of distraction when you’re in the car – any notifications, no browsing social media, and no distractions while you try to pick the next song to listen to. However, this might not always be an option when you need to use your GPS or if you use your phone for entertainment purposes while driving. Fortunately, there are other solutions. You can use an app while you drive (we make some suggestions for good apps below!) and simply make a habit of activating the app before you hit the road. If you often drive with others in the car, another good option is to hand your phone to another passenger to hold onto until you reach your destination. If instead you typically drive alone, you can always close up your phone in the glove compartment, your purse, in the center storage console under your armrest or in any other place where you cannot reach it. That way, you can have your phone connected to the vehicle for entertainment purposes but will avoid texting and driving.

Can you go to Jail for Texting While Driving?

In Pennsylvania, drivers are prohibited from driving and texting. If you are pulled over texting and driving, you will be issued a fine. However, if you are texting and driving and you cause an accident, there may be criminal consequences for those actions that could result in jail time. The more severe the accident, the more jail time you can face. For example, if you cause a fatality by texting and driving, you may face up to five years in jail.

How many People are Killed by Texting While Driving?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that in 2017, over 3,000 people were killed in accidents caused by distracted driving. In Pennsylvania alone, a study estimated that in 2015, distracted driving caused nearly 15-thousand car crashes and at least 66 deaths.

Apps That Help to Prevent Texting While Driving

Nowadays, there are many apps available to drivers to deter them from texting while driving. Here are some of our favorites:

Drive Safe & Save– Designed by State Farm Auto Insurance, this app tracks your driving habits every time you get behind the wheel. Not only does it track when you’re using your phone while in the car, but also identifies when you’re speeding, breaking too hard or accelerating too quickly. The app will also provide tips on how to improve your driving habits. If you’re a State Farm customer, you can send your driving data to them and receive discounts for good driving on your monthly insurance bill too!
LifeSaver – This app was designed for insurance companies and large trucking fleet – but is available for families too! For parents who are concerned about their children texting and driving, the app blocks the child’s phone while driving and alerts the parents when they have safely arrived at their destination. The app works quietly in the background when you start driving to block mobile distractions but provides options to unlock for emergency situations. It also provides reports on how safely family members are driving and parents can also unlock a reward system to incentivize good driving habits.
AT&T DriveMode– Similarly, this app turns on when it senses that the phone is moving more than 15 miles per hour. Once activated, the app silences all incoming notifications, and will automatically respond to the caller or texter with a text stating that the person they are attempting to contact is currently driving. Parents are also alerted when the app is turned off, so you can help ensure your child is always safe.
DriveSafe.ly – This app has to be activated each time you get in the car. However, once it’s turned on, this app will read aloud each text message you receive. It will also automatically reply to the sender that you are currently driving.

Check your Smart Phone – Many smartphones have “Do Not Disturb” or Drive Mode settings that you can turn on when getting behind the wheel.

Considering the importance of this matter and increase awareness to the next generation, we had organized the “Texting and Driving Essay” contest on for students. We are very happy to find that we got many great articles which show our next generation is pretty aware of this matter. The following four Texting and Driving Essay essays are the best entries:

Texting and Driving Essay: Statistics on texting and using your phone while driving and ideas to break those habits

By Leticia Pérez Zamor

Every day in the United States around one out of ten people are killed by distracted drivers, and around 1500 are injured in some way in crashes by these irresponsible, distracted drivers. One of the most dangerous, distracting activities that many people do is texting while driving. It is extremely dangerous because people who do this are putting more attention in texting, and they take their eyes off the road while they are driving, which increases the chance that the driver can lose the control of the vehicle, and could cause a crash or even in a worst-case could kill other people. When a person is texting, she/he is thinking about other things besides concentrating on driving. This is very dangerous because it could make the driver lose control of the car and slow her/his brain’s reaction time in case of a potential accident.

The statistics are very sad because according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in 2011, 3,331 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, and 387,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver. Additionally, a recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute showed that drivers who are texting are twice as likely to crash, or almost crash, as those who are focused on the road. These statistics are reaching higher numbers because people are using their cell phones more and more, especially adolescents.

For this reason, it is very important that we find some ideas to break off this bad habit of texting while driving. I think that one of the easiest and best ways to break this habit is simply to turn off your phone. In this case, the driver wouldn’t be distracted by the ringing or buzzing of the phone, and it wouldn’t tempt the driver to text while driving. Another way to break this habit is to download some of the new applications that can disable cell phones while people are driving. Also, there are other applications that automatically send a text to whoever is texting the driver to tell that person that she/he is driving and that the text will be answered later. There are a great variety of applications to choose I think that we can use these to help us with the problem of texting while we are driving. Additionally, if a driver is waiting for an important call or text and has company in the car, the phone can be given to a passenger to check it out. Also, there are some programs that are helping to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and to keep it from occurring. In these anti-texting programs, people can drive in a simulated situation, where they are driving but also texting, and can see how many accidents are caused by this problem.

Something very important is that many of the states have started to pass some laws that order drivers to stop texting while driving. However, we need to be sincere: none of these laws will be effective if we as a society don’t understand that texting while driving could have terrible consequences, not only for us as drivers but also for other innocent people. I don’t think that answering texts is more important than the lives of other people; texting can wait until drivers arrive at their destination.

The Dangers of Texting While Driving Essay

By LoryYau, St. Johns University

With the advanced technology in today’s world, people are very connected to each other and are constantly on their phone texting friends, going on social media, or using the phone to pass time. However, this also includes texting back a friend while driving. As simple as it might seems, texting and driving is very dangerous and should be taken seriously. In fact, in 2011, at least 23% of auto collisions involved cell phones. That’s about 1.3 million crashes! Not only that but texting while driving is actually more dangerous than driving while being drunk or high on marijuana. Every year almost a million people in the United States get into accidents, the majority: teens. Unfortunately, the number just keeps increasing.

Though texting and driving caused many injuries and deaths, there are still people who don’t think it’s a problem and are confident that they can use their phone and drive simultaneously. However, 34% of teens aged sixteen to seventeen spend about 10% of their driving time outside of their lane. This affects other people who are driving and can cause the deaths of innocent lives. In a 2012 Cell Phone and Driving Statistic, it is reported that 3,328 people were killed and 421,000 people were injured due to distracted drivers. Furthermore, it is said that talking or listening on the phone increases the risk of crashing by 1.3 times while reaching for a device is 1.4. Dialing is 2.8 times more risk of crashing while texting is 23 more times. Additionally, talking on a cell phone and driving at the same time can make the driver’s reaction time to be as slow as that of a seventy-year-old.

To break these habits, people can either turn off their phone or put it on silent before driving. This will force them to concentrate on the road only. But if this method doesn’t work on some people, you can use S voice or Seri to command your phone to read out your messages or to reply back. This will allow your eyes to focus on the road instead of your phone. No more reaching for your phone to text “Lol” or “Lmao” and endangering your own life and many others. Though you are still talking while driving, it still decreases your chance of crashing. An app in smartphones that works similarly to the method I described before is called DriveSafe.ly. Basically, it reads your text messages and emails out loud and has a customizable auto-responder. A few other apps that help prevent texting are called Safely Go and TXT ME L8R. Both apps work by either blocking the phone’s ability to text, receive and use apps or locking the phone. Then both phones automatically send a message to inform your friends or family that you are driving. For parents, you can give your phones to your kids while you’re driving. You won’t be able to get them back when they’re too busy playing Angry Bird or Cut the Rope.

To stop people from texting and driving, one of the major phone companies, AT&T, address this problem by creating AT&T’s It Can Wait to text and driving campaign to spread awareness. Many stories and documentaries are also posted online to support this campaign. You can also join millions of others who have signed the pledge to never text and drive and to instead take action to educate others about the dangers of it. If you still believe you can get home safely by texting and driving, AT&T’s simulator will prove you wrong. It gives you a real-life experience of texting and driving. With this game, you’ll only find out that it’s not as easy as it sounds. Before you look at a text, remember that it is not worth dying for.

The Issue of Texting While Driving Essay

By Justin Van Nuil

It seems that everyone has a cell phone, and they cannot be separated from it. Cell phones have made a huge impact in the world, both good and bad. Most of the bad come when people, especially teens, decide to use the phone when behind the wheel of a vehicle. There are some huge statistics against texting and talking on the phone while driving, and people are trying to bring awareness to this expanding problem across the United States.

Staggering statistics are out there for everyone to see, yet we go about our lives ignoring the signs and warning against using our cell phones while driving. Textinganddrivingsafety.com tells us that texting while driving increases the probability of getting in a crash twenty-three times the normal amount, and thirteen percent of the young adults, eighteen to twenty, have admitted to talking or texting before the course of the accident. This is due to the time our eyes are off the road, and our mind’s capacity to do only one task at a time. Just taking our eyes off the road for five seconds, while the car is traveling at fifty-five miles per hour, is the same as traveling a football field without noticing what is going on around us. Seeing the danger in this is very evident, especially around intersections. Taking eyes off the road through an intersection is probably the highest risk, the light could be changing causing the car in front to stop, or worse, traveling through the red light or a stop sign into flowing traffic.

Texting is a major factor when it comes to crashes and creating a hazardous situation, so preventing the usage of cell phones while driving would be a large step in limiting the number of crashes that happen in the United States. There are multiple associations that are already trying to prevent cell phone usage. Associations such as the NHTSA, the Nation Highway Traffic Safety Association, which is an organization dedicated fully to tips and facts and videos showing how dangerous it can be to use your cell phone. There are also Facebook and Twitter pages, and blogs. In addition, the driving course in Michigan has a section in the lesson on the hazards of using cell phones while driving.

These are just programs that are helping to prevent texting while driving. Easy and simple ways that everyone can do as they enter the car. Firstly, by putting the phone in the glovebox, you eliminate the temptation to reach for it and use it while your driving. If you decide not to use that method, and you have a passenger, just give the phone to them, they can rely on the information to you if it is that important. Just keeping the phone out of reach, in general, will help prevent the usage of the device.

Not only are these ways are widespread and easily accomplished, but there should also be a restriction in general for usage while driving. I know multiple states have issued laws against texting, and in some states absolute usage of the cell phone while in the driver’s seat. Although, the overall effects may not be seen in the number of accidents prevented due to these laws, having a larger discipline for doing such activities should help in dropping the number of people on their devices.

Preventing the usage of these everyday devices is very simple, yet rather difficult, and will save lives if it works out. Accidents are deadly to many people, so creating an environment for everyone is better in the long run. As a young adult, I plan to use some of these ideas and promote these websites and encourage others around me to do the same.

Why is Texting and Driving Dangerous?

By Haley Muhammad

It has become such an issue that every time we turn on the TV all we see is that same commercial running about that girl who died because she wanted to text her friend back. Or that now in every major TV show someone always gets in a car accident because they want to text someone that they love them. It’s clear that no one has the decency to pull over to text someone back or even call them to say I will text you later because I’m driving. It’s a rising epidemic that’s destroying the generation of teenagers. I remember when technology was something beautiful because of how helpful it is but, now its become a hazard to the generation alone. Statistics have shown that “ Texting while driving has become a greater hazard than drinking while driving among teenagers who openly acknowledge sending and reading text messages while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle,” stated by Delthia Ricks from Newsday newspaper.

Ever since the emergence of cell phones, this generation has become heavily dependent on it for every minute of every day. Cell phones and texting were created ultimately to provide communication but it has now become so much more than that. Statistics also show that “Seventy-one percent of young people say they have sent a text while driving. As a result, thousands of people die every year in crashes related to distracted driving,” (Distraction.gov). Texting while driving has become a heavy habit for most teens and adults as well but regardless of the commercials and shows and statistics that show the results of texting while driving most people cannot kick the habit. Other statistics include, “Individuals who drive while sending or reading text messages are 23 percent more likely to be involved in a car crash than other drivers. A crash typically happens within an average of three seconds after a driver is distracted,” (donttextdrive.com). Overall all these statistics are saying the same thing, is that one text can wreck all.

So many lives are taken or altered because of the simple decision to send or reply to one text message. If precautions are heavily enforced before adults and teens especially enter the car, then maybe this epidemic can become obsolete. Fines are enforced but how well is the question? Phones are the biggest distraction when you enter a car, this doesn’t completely forget about alcohol or trying to change the radio station but technology has become so advanced that we have voice text and on a star. If the message is that important phones should become voice-activated and only respond to your voice so we can still pay attention to the road and send out a text without removing our hands from the wheel. Technology has also graced us with Bluetooth if you need to stay in communication just use Bluetooth and make a phone call instead which is completely easier than sending a text anyway because it’s faster and you can get responses much quicker than you could with a text message. Reality is one text or call could wreck it all.

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Driving dangers: 9 top distractions that contribute to accidents, according to experts

For distracted driving awareness month, experts share warnings on visual, physical and cognitive distractions.

Car launches off road due to 'distracted driving,' police say

Oregon State Police share this video of a car launching 200 feet off an embankment on Feb. 25, 2024.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month — a good time to be mindful about potential hazards on the road.

Laura Adams, senior analyst with Aceable, an Austin, Texas-based driver education company, told Fox News Digital that distracted driving poses "significant risks," contributing to about 3,000 deaths per year.

"Understanding the most common driving distractions, adopting proactive measures to avoid them and investing in defensive driving education are crucial steps to create a safer environment for yourself and others on the road," she said.

TEEN IS HASSLED BY FRIENDS WHEN HE WON'T DRIVE UNLESS ALL PASSENGERS ARE BUCKLED UP

Tina Paff, a certified driver rehabilitation specialist for Bick’s Driving School of Southwest Ohio, told Fox News Digital that driving distractions tend to fall into one of three main categories: visual, physical or cognitive.

The experts identified nine of the most common distractions on the road.

Distracted driving causes approximately 3,000 deaths per year, according to an expert. Here are some of the most common distracted driving actions on the road today. (iStock)

1. Daydreaming

Daydreaming is one of the "most frequent" and "scariest" distractions, Adams warned.

"It can occur during monotonous or long drives, like a daily commute," she said.

THESE MEDICATIONS COULD MAKE DRIVING DANGEROUS, THE FDA WARNS

"Maintaining focus on the road and practicing mindfulness while driving can help prevent lapses in attention caused by daydreaming or what you see outside your vehicle," she said.

2. Using a cell phone

Checking your cell phone while driving is an example of a visual distraction, according to Paff.

"You might take your eyes off the road to read that text, or to look at the GPS, or to adjust music, or for climate control," she said.

"They all take your eyes off the road."

Checking your cell phone while driving is an example of a visual distraction, according to a driving expert. (iStock)

Adams agreed, noting that while answering a text can be a natural impulse, any phone-related activities will divert your attention from the road.

"To avoid distraction, use proactive measures like setting your phone to 'Do Not Disturb' mode and pre-programming any GPS apps before you start driving," she advised.

3. Looking at something outside your vehicle

Staying focused on driving means actively scanning your surroundings by watching the road ahead and using your side and rearview mirrors, according to Adams.

"The biggest culprit is the cell phone."

"Looking at something outside your vehicle for too long, such as a billboard, another car or anything else that might catch your eye can be dangerous," she said.

"If you’re not paying attention when a vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian gets in your path, it only takes a couple of seconds for an accident to happen."

WHEN SHOULD OLDER DRIVERS HAVE TO STOP DRIVING?

Paff categorized these types of distractions as "cognitive," since it’s "taking our mind off driving."

Practicing mindfulness while driving can help prevent lapses in attention, she said.

Cognitive distractions such as looking at something outside your car will "take your mind off driving," an expert said. (iStock)

"Think of the times you arrived somewhere and you don’t remember the drive getting there," she said.

"The biggest culprit is the cell phone, as we begin to engage in the conversation or text chain more than concentrating on driving."

4. Abusing substances and lacking sleep

Substance abuse, or even the use of some allergy or sleep medications , can "leave us feeling foggy," Paff noted.

5 THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DO DURING A TRAFFIC STOP

"And we may miss a few very important things along the way, like a stop sign, a light or traffic," she said.

Sleep deprivation can also cause fogginess, taking one's attention away from the road, Paff added.

Sleep deprivation can be dangerous for drivers, experts warn. (iStock)

"If you know you are driving in the morning, maybe start limiting that medication you take at night that can and will affect your driving," she said.

"If you suffer from sleep deprivation and you have no choice, you may want to leave your house with an energy or caffeinated drink."

MEAT PIE, SPIDERS AND A TOUPEE: UBER DISHES ON WEIRD THINGS LEFT BEHIND IN RIDES THIS YEAR

People who are sleep-deprived shouldn’t keep their car "all heated and cozy," Paff said. "Go ahead and open the window [and] get that cool air blowing through to keep you alert and responsive."

5. Reaching for objects

Tasks like reaching for a fallen object, answering a text or chatting with a passenger can all come as "natural impulses," Adams said.

"Reaching for a fallen object while driving can only take a matter of seconds, but those seconds could be the difference between staying safe and causing an accident," she noted.

woman reaches for purse in back seat of car

Make sure you have all your supplies in place before starting to drive, an expert advised. (iStock)

"Before driving, consider what you may need and place it close to you. If you need an object that would take your attention away from driving, pull off the road and stop your vehicle in a safe place to retrieve it."

6. Interacting with passengers

Establishing clear rules for passengers is a must, especially for new drivers who are still getting comfortable with the road, Adams said.

"If you have passengers, tell them you must stay focused on the road to drive safely," she suggested. "To keep them engaged while maintaining safety , you could ask them to help you navigate the best route to your destination."

7. Eating and drinking

Instead of trying to multitask while driving, Adams said it's best to finish eating and drinking before driving.

"Managing messy foods or spills could be a significant distraction behind the wheel or cause you to lose control of your vehicle," she warned.

Eating and drinking while driving is one of the primary causes of distracted driving, experts agreed. (iStock)

"Phones can cause us to stop physically driving, but so can eating, drinking [and] grooming," Paff added.

8. Adjusting onboard systems

To ensure that your hands stay on the steering wheel, it's important to have all your supplies in place before you start driving, said Paff.

Adams agreed, suggesting pre-adjusting all onboard systems, like climate control, mapping, music, seats and mirrors.

"Stay focused on the destination, be alert to others around you, turn phone notifications off and enjoy the ride."

"Trying to make changes while driving can be a dangerous distraction and prevents you from physically making changes while driving," she said.

9. Dealing with pets or moving objects in the vehicle

"Always secure your children, pets or anything in your vehicle that could move before getting underway," Adams advised.

"If they need your attention, pull off the road to manage them safely instead of trying to reach the backseat while driving."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Even vigilant drivers are at risk when other drivers are distracted, Adams warned. To help reduce this risk, she suggested taking a defensive driving class.

"They teach valuable tools and strategies to anticipate and respond to hazardous situations, including those caused by distracted drivers," she said.

Drivers should "stay focused on the destination, be alert of others around you, turn phone notifications off and enjoy the ride," an expert advised. (Arterra/Universal Images Group)

"By learning defensive driving techniques, you can enhance your awareness of potential risks, improve your decision-making skills and reduce the likelihood of being involved in a distracted driving accident."

Another technique that Paff offered is envisioning arriving safely at your destination while driving.

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"This type of visualization may help your concentration as well as keep you focused on the other drivers around you to prevent something disastrous from happening," she said.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle .

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital.

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Travelers Survey: Distracted Drivers Making US Roads More Dangerous

Nearly 80% of respondents to a recent Travelers survey said inattentive driving is more of a problem now than it has been in past years.

Travelers noted the pandemic triggered a new wave of dangerous habits. The 2024 Travelers Risk Index cataloged behaviors that have been on the rise since before the pandemic, which include:

Updating or checking social media: +13%.
Typing a text or email: +10%.
Talking on a cellphone (hands-free): +10%.
Using a cellphone to record videos/take photos: +9%.
Reading a text or email: +9%.

After decades of steady decline in roadway fatalities, U.S. traffic deaths jumped in 2021, and the fatality rate has remained high in subsequent years.

The latest official data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows U.S. traffic deaths jumped by 10.5% in 2021, and NHTSA’s estimates since then show a similarly high fatality rate.

The 2024 index surveyed more than 1,000 consumers and business managers about perceptions of risk in their daily lives. Four in 10 drivers surveyed have experienced a “near-miss” because of their own distracted driving, and 12% admit they have been in a crash due to their own distraction. Almost one-third of drivers (31%) report being in a crash due to other drivers’ distractions.

With rising commercial auto insurance rates, 85% of executives surveyed said they have concerns about employees’ driving habits, especially surrounding technology, up from 77% last year. The concern has moved the majority of executives surveyed (68%) to implement distracted driving policies that include prohibiting the use of handheld devices while driving (53%) and punishment for employees who violate the policy (77%).

While teen drivers have notoriously been one of the deadliest demographics on the road, parents surveyed are increasingly concerned and setting ground rules for young drivers, including limiting cell phone use (72%), limiting the number of passengers (61%) and restricting driving times (53%) and distances (62%).

“Distraction is one of the leading causes of roadway fatalities, and it continues to have a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities,” said Michael Klein, executive vice president and president of personal insurance at Travelers. “Creating safer roadways requires action from each of us, and while the survey results show that people are concerned about distracted driving, they are still unfortunately taking dangerous risks.”

Consistent with previous years’ findings, the 2024 index indicated that passengers voicing their concerns (86%) and financial rewards for safe driving (86%) could be strong motivators to curb distracted driving.

“Distracted driving is a preventable crisis,” said Chris Hayes, assistant vice president of workers compensation and transportation, risk control, at Travelers. “If you’re the passenger in a vehicle, speak up if the driver isn’t paying attention to the road. If you’re an employer, avoid calling employees when you know they’re driving. If you’re a parent, be a positive role model by putting the phone away and avoiding distractions when you’re behind the wheel.”

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The History of Moscow City

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Published: Feb 12, 2019

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