June 2008 Safety Tip

“You drive me to distraction!!!”  Have you ever had your parent or someone else in a moment of frustration say something like this to you?  Usually you are doing something that is irritating or frustrating to that person.  Most often it is some minor irritation that you may even find humorous.  However, when it comes to driving distractions, it is no laughing matter and driving distractions could cost you or someone their life. 

Search the internet and one will find various studies that range from 25% to 75% in the severity to which drivers are distracted according to the type of distraction.  But, consider the following distractions and think how often you commit these while driving?

• Talking to other passengers.
• Changing radio stations, CDs or tapes.
• Eating or drinking.
• Reading.
• Cell phones.

Arguably, the distraction of most concern and receiving the most attention now, especially among younger drivers, is cell phone use.  A common myth surrounding cell phone use is that the driver is too busy dialing or text messaging and not in total physical control of the vehicle.  And while this is most certainly a safety concern and has caused many motor vehicle accidents, the true danger in cell phone use is that the driver is not mentally concentrating on actively driving the vehicle, but is instead focused on the telephone conversation.  Drivers are failing to process the potential driving hazards because their brains are too busy processing the information needed to carry on a conversation.  That is to say they do not really ‘see’ what is going on in front of their eyes because their brains are ‘seeing’ the conversation.  How many times have you driven down the road after a long day at work and maybe were thinking back about your day or a heated meeting you were in or a big project that is due and suddenly realize you either missed your exit or arrived at your destination and don’t remember driving the last 5, 10 or even 20 minutes of your trip?  The same principle is occurring when talking on the phone while driving.  Therefore, the real danger for cell phone usage is that the drivers’ attention is focused on the conversation and not focused on proactively driving.  The car is essentially on auto pilot.  This same distraction concept is responsible for traffic accidents where there are multiple teenagers in the car.  The driver and passengers are too busy focusing on the conversation that drivers are failing to see a potential danger, process that danger and take the necessary preventive action.  The increase in accidents involving multiple teens in vehicles and talking on the cell phone has led many jurisdictions to pass legislation that restricts cell phone use as well as the number of passengers new teen drivers can have in the vehicle. 

The hazards associated with cell phone use are a result of our inablility to mentally process multiple tasks simultaneously.  Therefore, how can we better educate ourselves and young drivers to be better aware of the risks associated with cell phone use and the ways to reduce these risks?  The obvious solution is not to use the phone when driving and to accomplish that goal many jurisdictions have passed, or are considering legislation to restrict cell phone use while driving.  In addition, many companies have paid out millions of dollars in damages related to their employees being involved in accidents while talking on their cell phones.  In response to increased litigation, many companies now are banning employees from using their cell phones while driving company vehicles.  As the dangers of cell phone use become more prevalent, this trend most likely will become more widespread.  In the long term, these actions will have a positive impact in reducing or eliminating using our phones while driving, but in the interim talk to your new drivers about being a responsible safe driver and consider these tips before you decide to use your phone:

• The recommended and safest method is not to use the cell phone at all while driving and if you must, then pull to the side of the road or other safe area and stop your vehicle.

• Do not text message or dial your phone while driving!

• Do not exceed the posted speed limit while talking on the phone!

• Do not use the phone in heavy traffic or extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain, snow or icy road conditions, or while driving in school and construction zones.

• Be familiar with the operation of your phone and use speed dial.

• Use a hands-free device.  Remember, although hands-free devices will help to reduce the hazards associated with manipulating the phone while driving, the major cause of collisions is still related to drivers' inattentiveness.