As per National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA, 2016), around 391,000 injuries were reported due to distracted driving. Distractive driving refers to act of driving engaging in other activities which distract the driver’s attention away from the road while driving, activities include talking on the phone, texting, eating and drinking, fiddling with the stereo system, and in recent times has come to include smartphone-associated work such as taking videos, posting content online, using GPS, video calls. Using of GPS while driving is debatable since in some countries using GPS is legalised, still it should be illegalised provided that as per National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA), sending or reading a text takes eyes of the road for 5 seconds at 55mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed similarly if looking at GPS for 5 seconds can lead to a crash.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (OSHA) When a driver talks on a cell phone, reaction time is delayed just as if the driver were drunk therefore distractive driving is equivalently dangerous as drink and drive. People under the age of 20 are involved in more fatal crashes caused by distractions than any other age group.
Texting while driving is the most dangerous distracted driving activity because it combines all three types of driving distraction that is visual “taking your eyes off the road”, manual “taking your hands off the wheel”, and cognitive “taking your mind off the task of driving”. We all are aware of the consequences that passengers in the car and also drivers and pedestrians are at risk and potential accidents still engaged in non-driving activities while driving.
In order to be safe while driving follows these tips to eliminate distraction while driving, turn your phone off or put it in Airplane Mode until you reach your destination. Put your phone in the backseat so you are not tempted to check it. Text the person you are meeting to tell them you are on the way, and then put your phone away. If you are relying on maps or navigation apps to lead you to a destination, familiarize yourself with the route prior to departing. Use the audio function of navigation apps whenever possible. Create a music playlist or CD rather than playing the radio. Pullover to a safe area and enjoy your food and drink before driving again. Keep conversations to a minimum to avoid being distracted by passengers. Pullover to a rest stop or safe area if needed for interactions with children in the car. You can talk or sing to keep them entertained but keep your eyes forward on the roadway.
By Love Grover
Volunteer TRAX