Driving requires your full undivided attention & driving while distracted can lead to devastating consequences.
According to the CDC, there are three main types of distraction:
- Visual: taking your eyes off the road;
- Manual: taking your hands off the wheel; and
- Cognitive: taking your mind off of driving
The US Department of Transportation defines distracted driving as any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. These types of distractions include:
- Using a cell phone or smartphone
- Eating and drinking
- Talking to passengers
- Reading, including maps
- Using a navigation system
- Watching a video
- Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player
- But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction.
Be prepared to focus solely on driving before you turn on the ignition. Make sure children & pets are safely secured. If necessary while driving, pull safely off the road to make calls & send or read text messages.
Think about these statistics before you reach for your cell phone, adjust the radio, or, take your eyes off the road for any reason:
• In 2012, 3,328 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, compared to 3,360 in 2011. An additional, 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver in 2012, a 9% increase from the 387,000 people injured in 2011.1
• In 2011, nearly one in five crashes (17%) in which someone was injured involved distracted driving.
• In December 2012, more than 171 billion text messages were sent or received in the US.
For more information on distracted driving visit: http://www.distraction.gov/