Distracted Driving
P. Valentino
March 25, 2013
Distracted or inattentive driving is when a
driver engages in any activity that might
distract them from the primary task of
driving and increases their risk of
crashing.
 While many motorists may perceive
driving as a routine activity, attentive
driving is critical as the traffic
environment changes constantly and
drivers must be prepared to react.
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Learning Fact:

Distracted driving is any non-driving
activity that takes the driver’s
attention from the primary task of
operating the vehicle and increases
the risk of crashing.

There are three main types of
distraction:
What is Distracted Driving

Visual—taking your eyes off the road

Manual—taking your hands off the wheel
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Cognitive—taking your mind off your
driving
Three main types of Distractions
Using a cell phone
Eating, drinking, or grooming
Talking to passengers
Reading, including map reading
Using a PDA or navigation system
Watching a video
Changing the radio station, CD, or Mp3
player
 Texting
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Activities that can distract a Driver

Using a cell phone while driving
delays a driver’s reactions as much as
having a blood alcohol concentration
at the legal limit of .08 percent.

Talking with another passenger can also
be distracting, but a passenger may warn
the driver if there is suddenly a dangerous
situation on the road.
Distraction Tips
The NHTSA estimates that more than
half a million people are injured and
 nearly 6,000 die annually in crashes
involving a distracted driver.
 Most dangerous of all is texting
because it involves all three types of
distraction—visual, manual, and
cognitive.
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NHTSA
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Shows that drivers who send and receive text
messages take their eyes off the road for an
average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6
seconds while texting.
At 55 miles per hour, this means that the
driver is traveling the length of a football field,
including the end zones, without looking at the
road.
Drivers who text are more than 20 times more
likely to get into an accident than
nondistracted drivers.
Research
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Phones. Phone conversations pull your focus off the road,
whether hands-free or not.
Texting all three Visual, Manual, Cognitive.
Adjusting Controls. Set music, air and mirrors before
driving.
Eating or Drinking. Avoid eating and reaching for food or
drink.
Reading. GPS devices, as well as maps, newspapers and
books are all serious distractions. Pull over to study a map,
and know trip directions in advance.
Drowsy Driving. Drive well-rested. If you feel tired, exit
and find a place to rest an open window and loud music
won’t help.
Distractions Are the Reasons Inattentive Driving Accounts for
traffic crashes
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March 07, 2013 statewide texting-while-driving ban that
has eluded passage for several years is again moving
through the Florida Legislature.
The Senate Communications committee is considering
Opponents have long likened it to needless government
intrusion, but supporters say the measure will save lives.
The bill outlaws texting by drivers but exempts police and
other emergency vehicles.
The proposed law makes texting subject to secondary
enforcement.
Police could cite drivers for it only if they had been pulled
over for another violation such as speeding.
A violation would lead to a fine and — if texting resulted in
a crash — the driver would be assessed six points. Points
lead to increased insurance rates.
Florida House Bill (SB 52).
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Children Misbehaving
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90 percent of school bus accidents occurred as a
result of the driver being distracted by students
misbehaving.
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Kids really need to be trained to stay in their
seats, even if they do not have seat belts, and
not to make too much noise.
Drivers should tell children to cross the road in
front of the bus, not behind, and make sure that
all the children who exited at that stop are
accounted for before driving off again.
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School Bus Drivers Distractions
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Along with the extra distractions from
students and so on, school bus drivers
also have to contend with difficult weather
conditions, just like any other driver, and
also have to make lots of stops and starts
along their journey.
School Bus Drivers Distractions
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Defective equipment can be a cause of
school bus crashes.
Defective Equipment
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Driver negligence can lead to mishaps on
a school bus.
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Drivers must manage children's behavior
and at the same time keep their mind,
plus their eyes, on the road ahead and
behind them.
Driver Negligence
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School bus accidents can also occur due
to the carelessness of those outside the
school bus.
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Also, a pedestrian not paying attention
can cause a bus driver to hit him.
School Bus Accidents
Overload school buses.
 Due to budget cuts.
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Bus Distractions
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Promote Distraction-Free Driving
Announce Your Commitment to Employee Safety
Introduce your cell phone policy.
Distribute the policy and give employees time to read and
react to it.
Create a 12-Month Safety Calendar – You should
promote distraction-free driving all year, but build on
momentum of safety events during logical times of the
year, like April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Use Posters, Web Banners and Fact Sheets from NSC
The National Safety Council provides many resources to
help promote the prevention of distracted driving. Our Cell
Phone Policy Kit provides ready-to-use materials.
What Can Be Done
Condition White
Condition Yellow
Condition Orange
Condition Red
Unaware that a driving
related threat exists this
may cause an officer to
become complacent.
General awareness of
possible threats and the
officer is aware of a
condition which will
draw their attention to a
driving stimulus.
Recognition that a
threat exists and the
officer takes appropriate
driving action.
Specific threat identified
and appropriate driving
actions are taken. The
officer is prepared to
take evasive driving
action.
Attention is unfocused
or preoccupied, and the
officer is oblivious to
potential danger in his
or her environment.
Attention is focused,
and the officer scans
the environment for
potential driving
hazards.
Awareness of a specific
driving hazards
preplanning and more
intense focus. Physical
indicators of stress may
become evident. The
officer needs to avoid
tunnel vision and utilize
OODA Loop. By
orientating, observing,
decide and act.
The threat is assessed
and managed through
intensified cognitive and
physical reactions.
Survival stress functions
become optimum. The
officer needs to avoid
tunnel vision initiate
combat breathing and
continue the OODA
Loop process.
Example:
A person drives to work
and does not remember
the drive (automatic
pilot). The same thing
happens when an officer
is on routine patrol.
Example:
While on the job, an
officer is in a state of
relaxed awareness and
notices what is going on
around him or her and
is aware of the potential
driving hazards.
Examples:
A patrol officer while on
patrol is conducting a
security check and is in
an area which is
unfamiliar. There are
also inherent driving
conditions such
weather, darkness and
obstructions ect.
Example:
The patrol officer now
has to take an evasive
action to avoid an
incident which will
cause injury to persons
or damage to the
vehicle or property.
OODA / Loop
Orientate
Officer should
observe his / her
surroundings to
better access the
proper driving
condition.
Observe
Officer has situational
awareness and should be in
condition yellow and aware
of his / her surroundings at
all times.
Decide / Act
Example:
The Patrol officer
makes a decision
and based off of the
decision acts. The
loop comes into play
because the officer is
constantly orientates,
observes, makes
decisions and acts.
Cooper Color Code Driving Awareness
Questions and Answers
The End