9.2 Examples of Common Driver distractions
Any situation that can mentally or emotionally distracts you and take precedence over traffic matters is dangerous. Distractions must be kept to a minimum, and you must be focused at all times while behind the wheel. In this section, we will discuss some of the more common distractions. How many are you guilty of?
Eating
Hitting the drive-thru is more common today than ever before. However, eating in your car can be deadly. Eating will distract you and cause you to take your hands from the steering wheel. You should eat before you drive, but if this is not possible, satisfy your appetite only on the side of the road in a parked car.
Drinking and subsequent spills often cause the eyes to focus away from the road. Hot spills can result in burns and increase the chances for a collision. Drinks should be kept sealed in a container and saved for later, when you are not driving. If you must have a drink while driving, a cup with a spill-proof lid can help prevent or minimize spills.
Children/Other Passengers
Passengers, particularly children, often require much of your attention and may decrease you road awareness. All passengers, including children, must be buckled in the vehicle and instructed to let you focus on the road. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drivers rank passengers as among the most frequent causes of distraction. Young children are four times as distracting as adults, while infants can be a whopping eight times more distracting. Think carefully about stealing a few seconds’ glance to investigate while at cruising speed.
Smoking
Smoking does not allow you to keep both hands on the steering wheel. While that is not safe, it is the process of smoking that can be a deadly distraction. Consider the distractions that can occur by reaching for a cigarette, lighting it, putting it out, or watching for falling ashes while trying to control the vehicle.
Also, it is ILLEGAL to smoke in a vehicle while there is a minor inside.
Radio
Finding a station and looking down at the radio takes your eyes away from the road. The National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS) conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2009, shows that investigations into 6,949 motor vehicle crashes which occurred between 2005 and 2007, nearly 1 percent of the drivers involved were adjusting the radio or CD player. To prevent this, use preset buttons to locate stations so that it does not adversely affect your driving.
Some drivers combine driving with dancing. Music is often stimulating, but physical gyrations while driving can interfere and prove to be unsafe.
Note:
In California, it is illegal for a person to drive with headphones or ear buds in both ears.
Reading
Attempting to read and drive at the same time is impossible. The act of driving should be respected. Reading often leads to rear-end collisions because the eyes are not focused on the road and the driver does not see cars braking ahead. If you persist in reading newspapers or books perched on your steering wheel, you are simply asking for trouble.
Electronic Devices
With all the technology innovations, many electronic devices are now available that cause driver distractions. Make sure that you are not engaging and operating these devices while driving.
Common electronic devices include:
- Cell Phones
- Navigation Systems
- Computers
- MP3 Players
- DVD Players
Some vehicles are equipped with portable entertainment systems. These devices may require the driver to change DVDs or adjust video control.
Portable and on-board navigation systems in vehicles can also cause the driver to become distracted from the road. Often times, drivers rely on the directions being given by the device and do not pay attention to road signs. The device may direct the driver to make a left hand turn, when that road may have just been changed to a one-way street. If the driver is not paying attention, they could be driving down that street in the wrong direction.
Working In Your Car
It’s no secret that for many people, multi-tasking doesn’t stop when they get behind the wheel. People today seem more inclined to make auto travel an extension of home, work, or play. Distractions such as typing on a laptop, making business calls, and writing notes or reports are very dangerous. Multi-tasking may be the only way to cope at work or at home, but it’s something to avoid behind the wheel.
Applying Makeup / Shaving
You will often see men shaving or women applying lipstick or makeup while behind the wheel. These actions have no place in the vehicle, whatsoever. You cannot combine these actions with driving. Take care of your personal hygiene at home before driving.
Driving While Drowsy
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety studies, nearly 41 percent of drivers say that they have fallen asleep behind the wheel at some point or another. The NHTSA estimates drowsy driving in the United States causes 100,000 crashes a year, resulting in 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths.
If you feel too tired to drive, then don’t! You not only endanger your own life by driving while sleepy, but you may cause harm to drivers around you. Coffee, loud music, or fresh air may not be enough to keep yourself out of harm’s way while driving when fatigued.
Pets
If traveling with a pet, never let it interfere with your control of the vehicle. Allowing pets on your lap can cause collisions because they block the usage of car functions. To ensure driving safety, secure them in the back seat with the same care you would give any other passenger. Pets should be leashed or in a pet carrier while in the vehicle, especially if you put them in the back of an open truck.
Daydreaming
Driving can be an opportune time to organize your thoughts, clear your mind, think through problems, or just enjoy a few moments of solitude. With experience, routine driving becomes an automatic activity in and of itself. Like brushing our teeth, we don’t really have to think about the intricately coordinated choreography of our senses and muscles while driving. So we might think we have plenty of processing power left over to focus on non-driving related tasks. That can be dangerous when the driver overestimates their powers of focus. Keep your mind focused on the task of driving by not allowing yourself to daydream.
Scenery/Window Shopping
One of the most enjoyable experiences of being in a car is observing the scenery around you. This however, is something that should be restricted to the passengers in a vehicle, not the driver. Although you should keep your eyes moving and observe the environment around you while driving, this does not mean you should look at distracting objects such as the mountains off in the distance or a sale sign in a shop you are passing by. Keep your eyes focused on the objects that affect your ability to drive safely.
External Distractions
Looking out your window at what you are passing while you are driving can be a distraction since you lose focus of the road ahead. For example, you may impose danger and potential for a collision if you are concentrating more on getting a good look at:
- A collision scene
- A vehicle pulled over by law enforcement
- Construction work
- A billboard advertisement
- A scenic view
- Street names and addresses
Always focus on your driving. It’s crucial that you remain alert while on the road, so that you may arrive at your destination safely.
Attitude
Sometimes a long drive seems like just the thing to calm you down. In reality, it could be the worst thing to do when you’re angry or upset. Driving angry is like driving drunk. Your judgment is off, you are probably amped up, and you may not realize that you are engaging in dangerous actions such as flooring the gas pedal. To prevent an already tense situation from getting uglier, stay away from anything with wheels until your mood has improved and you are feeling calm and collected.
Reading Maps
Reading maps or directions with one hand on the wheel can be dangerous. Instead, map out your location and get a good idea of where you are heading before you get in your car. Pull over if you need to take a closer look at your directions or map while en route.
Environment
Things often found on or near the road can also limit what you see. Watch for any obstruction on, or near the highway where you have less than full vision. Objects of almost any size may hide hazards from your view. For example, a signboard could hide a pedestrian, or a large truck could hide a crash up ahead.
Always watch for people, animals, bicycles, and other things darting in front of your roadway. When vision is limited, prepare yourself by covering your brake and be ready to stop.
Drivers also need to take note of shrubbery, even if it is not in their pathway. Bushes or shrubbery often hide vehicles, people, children, and animals, which could cross your path of travel.