Just released from the congress on safety, Each day, more than 16 people are killed and more than 1,300 people are injured in crashes involving a distracted driver.1 Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving; these activities can increase the chance of a motor vehicle crash.
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 what you are doing.1
Distracted driving activities include things like using a cell phone, texting, eating, drinking, and talking with passengers. Using in-vehicle technologies (such as navigation systems) and portable communication devices can also be sources of distraction. While any of these distractions can endanger the driver and others, texting while driving is especially dangerous because it combines all three types of distraction.1
What are the risk factors?
- Some activities—such as texting—take the driver’s attention away from driving more frequently and for longer periods than other distractions.3
- Younger, inexperienced drivers under the age of 20 may be at highest risk because they have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes.
- Phone use has caused people to attend to conversation and loose track to the current driving event.3
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How big is the problem?
- In 2008, nearly 6,000 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver and more than 500,000 people were injured.1
- The proportion of drivers reportedly distracted at the time of a fatal crash has increased from 8 percent in 2004 to 11 percent in 2008.1
- When asked whether driving feels safer, less safe, or about the same as it did five years ago, more than 1 in 3 drivers say driving feels less safe today. Distracted driving—cited by 3 out of 10 of these drivers—was the single most common reason given for feeling less safe today.2
How can distracted driving be prevented?
- Many states are enacting laws—such as banning texting while driving—or using graduated driver licensing systems for teen drivers to help raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and to keep it from occurring.3
- On October 1, 2009, President Obama issued an executive order prohibiting federal employees from texting while driving on government business or with government equipment.3
- In January 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enacted an interim ban that prohibits commercial vehicle drivers from texting while behind the wheel. In March 2010, a proposed rule was announced that would make that ban stronger and more durable.3
- The Department of Transportation recently launched a national campaign to encourage the public to get involved in ending distracted driving. Put It Down
focuses on the key messages that drivers can’t do two things at once, and everyone has a personal responsibility to pay attention while behind the wheel.3
Resources for More Information
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- Official U.S. Government Website for Distracted Driving
- Put It Down Campaign
References
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Statistics and Facts about Distracted Driving. Based on the 2008 National Occupant Protection Use Survey [online]. [Cited 2008 June 2–22]. Available from URL: http://www.distraction.gov/stats-and-facts/#what
- AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. 2009 Traffic Safety Culture Index. [Cited 2009 July]. Available from URL: http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/2009TSCIndexFinalReport.pdf
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Policy Statement and Compiled Facts on Distracted Driving. [Online]. Available from URL: http://nhtsa.gov/
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