Distracted Driving Even Worse Than You Think, According to New Research

Drivers are becoming more aware of the dangers of texting while driving, but new research is showing that the distraction lasts even longer than once thought.

Potentially unsafe mental distractions can persist for as long as 27 seconds after dialing, changing music or sending a text using voice commands, according to research just released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The results are raising unexpected concerns surrounding the use of phones and vehicle information systems while driving.

It’s the third phase of the Foundation’s investigation on the subject, and shows that the new hands-free technology can mentally distract drivers even if their eyes are on the road.

“The lasting effects of mental distraction pose a hidden and pervasive danger that would likely come as a surprise to most drivers,” said Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, in a statement. “The results indicate that motorists could miss stop signs, pedestrians and other vehicles while the mind is readjusting to the task of driving.”

The best performing system was the Chevy Equinox, and the worst was the Mazda 6. Among phone systems, Google Now performed the best and Apple Siri and Microsoft Cortana were the worst.

How has the Wayland Police Department responded to the growing concern over distracted driving?

Wayland participated in the “Stop the Texts, Stop the Wrecks” campaign that was sponsored by the National Highway Safety Administration from April 10 to May 5 this year. During that time, officers were added to try to spot motorists who were texting and driving.

While the law banning texting while driving went into effect in 2010, Wayland officers still see plenty doing so on the roads, said Police Chief Robert Irving.

“It seems that drivers of all ages, but most frequently younger drivers, cannot avoid the temptation to view and answer a text that they may receive when driving,” said Chief Irving. “Although difficult to enforce, because an officer must observe the operator texting while driving, Wayland officers will stop a vehicle if they see someone driving while distracted.”

Chief Irving has noted an increase in rear-end collisions of late, and he says these crashes are often the result of distracted driving.

Do you text and drive? Have you ever? Have you stopped after realizing the dangers? Do you know of anyone who has been involved in an accident as the result of distracted driving? Share in the comments section below.