Why is Distracted Driving a Problem?
Distractions take a motorist’s attention off driving, which can make a driver miss critical events, objects, and cues or abandon control of a vehicle, all potentially leading to a crash. Distracted drivers put not only themselves at risk, but everyone else using the road. According to NHTSA, one of every ten fatal crashes in the U.S. involves distraction, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths per year.
What Counts as Distracted Driving?
Countless distracting activities can divert driver attention and any one of them can increase the risk of a crash.
How Risky Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is very risky and is known to lead to fatal car crashes. NHTSAestimatedin 2012 that distraction was a factor about 10 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes and 18 percent of all crashes causing injury. The exact toll is unknown because Investigators often have difficulty measuring the extent to which driver distraction is a contributing factor in a crash. Wireless device records are usually only accessed in cases of death or serious injury, drivers may not admit fault and police may not always be able to discern the role of distraction. Methods of reporting are improving, but current estimates likely underestimate how frequently distraction causes crashes.
TheAAAFoundationfor Traffic Safetyhas sponsored research on distracted driving since the early 1990s.
- TheFoundation’s analysisof data from a 2006 study conducted by Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute revealed thattaking your eyes off the road formore than two seconds doubles your risk of a crash.
- The Foundation’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, which measures national attitudes towards road safety, consistently finds that drivers are willing to engage in distracting behaviors behind the wheel despite knowing the dangers. According to the2013 Traffic Safety Culture Index, 83 percent of motorists rated texting while driving and 58 percent rated cell phone use very serious threats to their safety, yet many admitted performing these distracting behaviors while driving within the previous month. Further, 88 percent of respondents said that distracted drivers were somewhat or a much bigger problem today than they were just three years ago.
- The pervasiveness of a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ attitude toward distracted driving highlights the need to spread awareness of the risks and work with drivers to increase safety on the roads.
- The Foundationis conducting groundbreaking researchon the role of mental distraction in crashes, including the safety of voice-activated communications technologies.
ViewAAA’s compendiumandfact sheeton distracted driving research to date.
Is Cell Phone Use While Driving Safe?
As one of the most visible sources of distracted driving, cell phone use has attracted much of the focus on distraction to date. A2008 AAA Foundation reportreviewed dozens of studies and concluded that any cell phone use roughly quadruples crash risk. With one out of every 20 driversusinga handheld cell phone at any given time, safety for all road users is a key concern.
Many believe that hands-free phones are safer than handheld phones. Numerous research studies, however, conclude that hands-free cell phones offer no significant safety benefits over handheld phones – hands-free is not risk-free. Some states and cities havelawsthat ban drivers from using handheld phones but allow hands-free use, which further confuses the issue.
Drivers should not use a cell phone – whether handheld or hands-free – while behind the wheel. Read the latestFoundation researchon mental distraction and its role as a key risk factor when using a cell phone behind the wheel.
Many objects and activities both inside and outside the vehicle can pose visual, manual, and mental distractions:
FAQs
Distractions take a motorist's attention off driving, which can make a driver miss critical events, objects, and cues or abandon control of a vehicle, all potentially leading to a crash. Distracted drivers put not only themselves at risk, but everyone else using the road.
What are the risks of distracted driving? ›
Consequences. 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.
How much does distracted driving increase the risk of accidents? ›
Using data from 3,000 drivers, several studies highlighted by the IIHS, including one by the IIHS and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) and one by AAA, found that distracted driving increases the risk of a crash by two to six times compared to normal operating conditions.
What is the AAA hangover effect? ›
Drivers can experience what's known as the “Hangover Effect” – a lasting mental distraction that can last up to 27 seconds after a driver uses their mobile device – even while stopped at a red light, stop sign, or while their vehicle is parked.
What amount of time doubles the risk of crashes if a driver is distracted? ›
Studies also show that 5 seconds is the average time a driver's eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55 mph, that's enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. Looking away from the path of travel for 2 or more seconds doubles the likelihood of a crash, according to AAA.
What are 5 facts about distracted driving? ›
80% of car accidents are caused by a driver being distracted. 2% of distracted driving accidents are the result of eating or drinking. Your attention span to the road decreases by 40% when you listen to music or podcasts in the car. 20% of drivers admit to doing their hair while driving.
What are the three main causes of distracted driving? ›
There are three main types of distraction, says the CDC.
- Visual: taking your eyes off the road.
- Manual: taking your hands off the wheel.
- Cognitive: taking your mind off the road.
Talking and texting – People who use their cell phones to talk or text while driving are by far the most common reason for distracted driving accidents.
What distraction can increase your driving risk? ›
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.
What are examples of distracted driving? ›
Physical distractions, also known as manual distractions, is anytime you take one or both your hands off the steering wheel while driving. This can include, eating and drinking, texting, searching for items that fell underneath the driver seat, or reaching for items in the passenger or back seat.
What drink helps with a hangover? Water. It's close at hand and helps relieve dehydration. You also can try electrolyte-rich sports drinks, juice, broth, and other liquids that your stomach can tolerate.
What is hangxiety? ›
Meet one of the reasons behind those nasty post-drinking feels: hangxiety (hangover anxiety). Unlike the physical symptoms of a hangover, hangxiety is characterised as feelings of stress, panic and fear, experienced by a person in the hangover period.
How long will a hangover last? ›
How long do hangovers last? In most cases, a hangover will last anywhere from a few hours to about 24 hours after your last drink. However, there are instances where the effects of a hangover can last for longer than this. The duration of a hangover can vary from person to person and depends on a number of factors.
What is the 2 second rule for distracted driving? ›
“The odds of a crash double if your eyes are off the road for more than two seconds,” said Wade Newton, a spokesman. Just two seconds can be the life-or-death difference between hitting that metal strip, or a deer, and avoiding it.
What are 2 dangers of distracted driving? ›
Distracted Drivers can lose control of their vehicle. Accidents caused by distracted driving can end lives, destroy families, and cause financial ruin. Thousands of people are killed and injured every year by distracted drivers.
What is the most serious distraction while driving? ›
Texting, checking email, etc.: The use of mobile devices is one of the most dangerous distractions while driving. Texting, checking emails, or using social media apps takes your eyes off the road and diverts a driver's attention away from driving.
What are 5 distractions that might affect a driver? ›
Driving Distractions Study
- Using electronic devices.
- Reaching for an object inside the vehicle.
- Looking at an object or event outside of the vehicle.
- Eating.
- Applying cosmetics (makeup).
While there are countless things that can distract one while operating a motor vehicle, they are categorized into four types of distractions.
- Visual Distractions. ...
- Auditory Distractions. ...
- Manual Distractions. ...
- Cognitive Distractions.
Brain injuries: Distracted driving accidents can cause head trauma, resulting in brain injuries such as concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injuries. Spinal cord injuries: These injuries can result in paralysis and can profoundly impact a person's quality of life.
