The Dangers of Distracted Driving

Driving a vehicle is one of the most dangerous things people do on a daily basis that is severely underestimated. According to distraction.gov, up to 27 percent of drivers in their 20s are involved in fatal crashes due to distracted driving. All too often I see drivers using their cellphones while driving. This is the most dangerous distraction. Other distractions include, but are not limited to:

Eating/drinking

Smoking

Talking to passengers

Grooming

Reading (directions, maps, etc.)

Using a navigation system

Watching a video

Adjusting a radio, CD, MP3, iPod, etc.

You may be thinking to yourself, “I’m a good driver and I can multitask with no problems” or “Those statistics don’t apply to me.” This is a very dangerous and selfish way of thinking. During the daylight hours, roughly 660,000 vehicles are being operated by drivers using a hand-held device and many of them are the younger and more inexperienced drivers (distraction.gov).

Approximately 90 percent of teens reported observing their parents engaging in distracted driving and teens are mimicking these bad practices. Liberty Mutual Insurance teamed up with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and surveyed 1,700 11th and 12th graders and produced some shocking statistics:

Ninety-one percent observed their parents talking on a cell phone while driving and 90 percent of teens reported doing the same.

Fifty-nine percent observed parents texting while driving and 79 percent of teens engaged in this behavior.

Twenty percent observed parents driving under the influence of alcohol and 15 percent of teens reported driving under the influence.

Kids are watching parents. Younger siblings watch their older siblings. People who have direct and powerful influence over others are teaching these bad habits.

Driving is a skill you have to learn and it should be learned correctly. It is important to keep your focus on the road and pay attention to the drivers around you. Driving is also a privilege, not a right. Respect that privilege. Respect other drivers. Your own safety is very important, but so is theirs.

Barlett, J. (2012) Teens are learning distracted driving behavior from parents. Retrieved from http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/09/teens-are-learning-distracted-driving-behavior-from-parents/index.htm

California Department of Motor Vehicles (2011) Driver distractions - don’t be a statistic (FFDL 28). Retrieved from http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl28.htm

NHTSA, What is distracted driving. Retrieved from http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/facts-and-statistics.html and Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/faq.html