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Distracted Drivers Cause Big Problems

December 28, 2006
Cell phones. Cigarette lighters. Edibles. Maps. Newspapers.

All are among the myriad of reasons that drivers get distracted -- and more vulnerable to harming themselves, their vehicles, and others.

Looking away from the road for two seconds -- two seconds -- nearly doubles the risk, according to a new study by the American Automobile Association, working in conjunction with Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute.

During the Christmas-New Year's week, when drivers are lulled into a false sense of security by thinking in "vacation mode," the risk is even greater.

The AAA's Foundation for Traffic Safety, which teamed with Virginia Tech in the landmark study, came to its conclusions after monitoring more than 100 drivers in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia for a year.

Another survey, undertaken by Washington State, reached similar conclusions, finding that 6.5 per cent of 57,000 crashes during the first half of this year were caused by one of 12 different driver distractions.

The list ranged from personal grooming to eating, drinking, and talking -- not only on the cell phone but to seatmates and/or pets in the car. Potential electronic distractions included the use of televisions, DVD players, computers, and navigational systems.

Although 38 states proposed legislations aimed at curbing driving distractions in 2006, only eight bills were passed. As a result, hand-held cell phones are banned in California, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. and a total of 13 states, including Connecticut and New Jersey, ban all cell phone use by young drivers.

Ads on the back of Metro buses in the nation's capital read "Hey, Big Shot, get off the phone and drive. NEGLIGENT DRIVING KILLS."

Race car driver Bobby Unser once said he felt much safer on the track than he did on the highway, citing a lack of total concentration behind the wheel.

Investigators cite that same factor -- inattention -- in increasing numbers of fatal crashes. While multi-tasking may work at the office, they say, it does not work behind the wheel.

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