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Distracted driving is a growing problem that is dangerous for drivers,
and pedestrians alike. After hearing some stories of people who have
personally been affected by a distracted driver, or taking a look at some of
the statistics showing distracted driving fatalities, there are few who would
claim that driving distracted is safe. For those still willing to argue that it is
safe, there are also studies showing that the brain’s functionality and
efficiency decreases while multitasking. In addition to distracted driving
being dangerous, in most states it is against the law, in one form or another.
The simple fact is that driving while distracted is dangerous, against the law,
and should be avoided.
The term “distracted driving” is used when drivers take their attention
away from driving to focus on another activity. Distracted driving increases
the likelihood that you will be involved in a car accident. Drivers can be
distracted in many different ways, such as texting or talking on a cell phone,
using a navigation system, interacting with passengers, and/or eating.
According to the article Distracted Driving can affect drivers in various
ways, and are categorized into the three different types of distraction: visual,
manual, and cognitive.
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● Visual distraction: Tasks that require the driver take their eyes away
from the roadway to visually obtain information.
● Manual distraction: Tasks that require the driver to take a hand off the
steering wheel to manipulate a device.
● Cognitive distraction: Tasks that require the driver to move their
attention away from driving (“Distracted Driving”).
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 (“Distracted Driving”).
We frequently hear about the horrible stories of distracted driving
accidents that have claimed another life. Whether it’s the person behind the
wheel who dies, or the innocent victims that cross their paths, either way the
story ends in tragedy.
Consider the case of nine-year-old
Erica Forney was excited for
thanksgiving with her family while
riding her bike home on November 25th,
2008. Erica was riding in the bike lane
only a few houses away from home,
Figure 2 Erica Forney google
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when she was struck by a Ford Expedition being driven by Michelle Smith
of Fort Collins, Colorado. The driver was looking at her cell phone, away
from the roadway, while finishing a call, and never saw Erica in front of her
vehicle. The SUV swerved into the bike lane, driving head-on into Erica,
launching her fifteen feet in the air. Erica died two days later, on
Thanksgiving Day, from severe brain trauma (“Faces of Distracted
Driving”).
Michelle Smith pleaded guilty to careless driving resulting in death,
and was sentenced to twenty-four months of probation and a $300 fine.
Also, Smith must complete 150 hours of community service, give money to
some community groups, complete a responsible- driving class, and write a
letter of apology to the Forney family and to local newspapers (Whaley). It
only took one phone call, and a few seconds of attention away from the road,
and Erica Forney’s life ends at nine years old.
Kelson Vaillancourt
had just completed his
junior year of college. He
had been selected for an
internship he really wanted,
but didn’t think he would
Figure 3 Kelson Vaillancourt google
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get. On May 20th, 2009, Kelson was riding with a fellow intern to count
birds in the field when they failed to yield at a stop sign because the driver
was distracted by his phone. They drove into an oncoming tractor-trailer.
The driver was killed instantly, while Kelson died in the hospital the next
day (“Faces of Distracted Driving”).
Calli Ann was a
vivacious two year old
that had an expressed
interest in going to
school, even at her young
age. She was proficient in
the ABC’s and 123’s. On
December 1st, 2010, she
Figure 4 Calli Ann google
and her mother, Ling,
were walking home hand-in-hand from Sunrise Park, their favorite park,
located a couple blocks from their home when an Kaitlyn Dunaway, an
eighteen-year-old driver, who later admitted to reading a lengthy text while
driving at an unsafe speed, struck and instantly killed Calli, and put her
mother in critical condition (Hart).
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Kaitlyn Dunaway was eventually charged with Vehicular
Manslaughter and found guilty in the Superior Court of California. She
received a sentence of only five days in jail, and 115 days of home
confinement. Three years on monitored probation, 200 hours of community
service speaking to those who can change their driving habits with
Restorative Justice, loss of her driver’s license for one year, and no cell
phone in a vehicle for three years (“Laws for Callie”).
Those are just a few stories out of thousands of distracted driving
incidents. Sadly, it is becoming an all too common occurrence that continues
to affect more and more people on a daily basis. It is the each individual
driver’s responsibility to know that it is NOT okay to text or talk on the
phone while driving, not even to change your iPod. Thinking twice and
being aware of the consequences of being a distracted driver could be the
difference between getting to your destination safely, and possibly changing
yours and someone else’s life forever.
Distracted driving carries significant consequences, and is dangerous to
drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike. Accidents can occur at any
moment. The issue of distracted driving is growing each year, with the
number of new drivers, but the risks are as fatal as they always have been.
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With the problem reaching epidemic proportions The U.S. Department of
Transportation has begun tracking distracted driving related accident data.
Each day in the United States more than 9 people are killed and more than
1,060 are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver
(“Distracted driving”).
Texting and driving is one of the most alarming categories within
distracted driving. About thirty one percent of U.S. drivers ages 18-64
reported that they had read or sent text messages or email messages while
driving at least once within the thirty days before they were surveyed
(“Distracted Driving”). It has been reported to be almost, if not more,
dangerous than drinking and driving.
Light Vehicle/Cars
Dialing Cell Phone
Talking/Listening to Cell
Phone
Reaching for an object
Heavy Vehicles/Trucks
Dialing Cell Phone
Talking/Listening to Cell
Phone
Use/Reach for electronic
device
Text messaging
2.8 times as high as non-distracted driving
1.3 times as high as non-distracted driving
1.4 times as high as non-distracted driving
5.9 times as high as non-distracted driving
1.0 times as high as non-distracted driving
6.7 times as high as non-distracted driving
23.2 times as high as non-distracted driving
Figure 5 Distracted driving stats google
In 2010, and 2011, The U.S. Department of Transportation gathered
data from the Fatality Reporting System (FARS) and the National
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Automotive Sampling System General Estimates System (NASS GES)
databases. The FARS database provided information on all fatal crash data
within the fifty states, including Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
The NASS GES database collects data of police reported crashes that caused
death, injury, and or any property damage.
Total
Distraction-Affected (D-A)
Cell Phone in Use
Crashes
30,196
2,843
(9% of
total
crashes)
355
(12% of
D-A
crashes)
Drivers
44,440
2,912
(7% of total
drivers)
Fatalities
32,885
3,092
(10% of total
fatalities)
367
(12% of
distracted
drivers)
408
(12% of fatalities
in D-A Crashes)
Figure 6 Distracted Driving 2010
The figure above shows the fatal crash data for 2010. This shows that
there were a total of around 30,000 fatal car accidents total within the U.S,
District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, with a little less than 33,000
fatalities, because some of the accidents killed more than one person. Out of
the 30,000 total accidents there were around 2,800 that were caused by a
distraction, and within those accidents about 3,100 fatalities occurred. Out
of the 2,800 accidents that involved a distraction there were almost 360
reported as having cell phones as the cause of the accident. In 2010, cell
phones were responsible for thirteen percent of the deaths in accidents that
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involved distracted driving, where a little less than 410 people died
(“Distracted Driving 2010”).
The figure below provides information on crashes, drivers, and
fatalities that were caused by distracted driving in 2011. The statistics for
2011 were similar to the year before with a little less than 29,800 fatal
accidents, with a total of 32,300 fatalities. Out of the total 29,800 accidents,
there were a little more than 3,000 that involved a distracted driver, with the
distracted driver fatality count at about 3,300 deaths. Fatalities where the
driver was distracted specifically by a cell phone totaled 350 fatal accidents.
Cell phones were responsible for 12% of the fatalities in which distracted
driving was stated as the source, with a total of 385 people dying in those
accidents (“Distracted Driving 2011”).
Total
Distraction-Affected (D-A)
Cell Phone in Use
Crashes
29,757
3,020
(10% of
total
crashes)
350
(12% of
D-A
crashes)
Drivers
43,668
3,085
(7% of total
drivers)
Fatalities
32,367
3,331
(10% of total
fatalities)
368
(12% of
distracted
drivers)
385
(12% of fatalities
in D-A Crashes)
Figure 7 Distracted Driving 2011
Based on the fatal crash statistics between 2010 and 2011 it would
seem that the number of distracted accidents have risen from one year to the
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next, showing that the problem is only becoming bigger. There was an
increase in both the number of distracted driving related accidents, as well as
cell phone specific distracted driving crashes. The difficulty with gathering
statistics at a crash scene is the reliance on the honesty of individual people.
Could they be lying to protect themselves from fault? Could an officer have
misreported the information? The National Highway Safety Association has
been working to universalize the reporting process in recent years, but it’s
still not perfect.
Distraction
Year
Overall
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2,575,000
2,491,000
2,346,000
2,217,000
2,239,000
2,217,000
Cell Phone Use
Estimate (% of total Injured) (% of People injured in
D-A Crashes)
503,000 (20%)
10,000 (2%)
448,000 (18%)
24,000 (5%)
466,000 (20%)
29,000 (6%)
448,000 (18%)
24,000 (5%)
416,000 (19%)
24,000 (6%)
387,000 (17%)
21,000 (5%)
Figure 8 Distracted driving 2011
The U.S. Department of Transportation also states that the estimated
number of people that were injured in distracted related accidents since has
dropped annually from 448,000 in 2007, to 387,000 in 2011, a fourteen
percent decrease over the five years (“Distracted Driving 2011”).
The Swedish Medical Center states that there are numerous ways to
avoid distracted driving. Some good tips to use are as follows:
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Think Before you drive
● Plan in advance: eat, drink, and make your phone calls before you
leave.
● Make sure your children are comfortable before you leave.
● Familiarize yourself with the equipment in your car.
● Attend to any personal grooming before you drive.
● Know the route that you will be traveling, don’t read a map before
while you are driving.
Stay Focused and Pay Attention
● Limit interaction with your passengers.
● Do not text while driving.
● Avoid taking your eyes off the road.
● Keep both of your hands on the wheel.
Avoid Driver Fatigue
● Keep focused on the road and know your surroundings.
● Don’t drive if you are tired
● If you go on a long trip please share the driving responsibilities.
Drive Defensively
● Prepare yourself for poor driving conditions.
● Avoid “gawking” or slowing down to look at a crash or other activity.
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● Know where your “out” is at all times and be prepared to use it (“Tips
to Avoid Distracted Driving”).
These suggestions will help reduce the risk of distracted driving and will
help ensure that everyone in the car arrives safely at the destination. This is
only one part of the puzzle; we need to educate everyone who gets behind
the wheel. Don’t be a statistic, be a part of the solution. Now that we’ve
seen how many people die from distracted driving each year, let’s take a
look at how multitasking affects the brain, and creates so many yearly
accidents.
In the study Zheng Wang,
Associate professor at the University of
Ohio State, she postulates that People
aren’t very good at media multitasking like reading a book while watching TV
- but do it anyway because it makes
them feel good. We allow ourselves to
Figure 9 Zheng Chang google
become entangled in distraction, we
feel gratified when multi-tasking. Zheng study showed that as students
multi-tasked their reported feeling better emotionally but they were not able
to meet their cognitive goals. We seek multi-tasking when we feel it is
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needed, when we have maybe study and work we need to get done.
Therefore when we absolutely need focus we distract ourselves in order to
have that “feel good moment” (Wang).
How does this desire
to multitask relate to
driving? We have discussed
how our brain loses
cognitive use when multiFigure 10 Neurological study google
tasking, but does multi-
tasking affect us immediately? The answer is yes. In a study called Brain
activity during driving with distraction: an immersive fMRI study, It is
explained how multitasking affects our immediate response time. They put
an fMRI machine in a car and had drivers drive free from distraction. They
performed simple task such as right hand turns to complex left hand turns at
a busy intersection, they then had them talk on a wireless device and
perform the same sort of turns. Their findings were that even talking affected
a posterior part of the brain that is important for visual awareness, and
alertness. This is important when considering that when that part of the
brain is affected it slows reaction required for performing a second cognitive
function (Schweizer et al).
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No matter what we
may believe, the facts
gathered in multiple
studies prove that we
drive poorer while
distracted, and we lose
Figure 11 Distracted brain google
cognitive ability when
multitasking. Our brains are meant to focus. A study was conducted in 2009
by the University of Utah in which forty participants engaged in both a
single task (driving) and a dual task (driving and text messaging) in a highfidelity driving simulator. The study found that there was a considerable
difference in reaction times and stopping distance. The results are conclusive
that braking reaction time while not texting was 881 ft., while texting 1,077
ft. that is a difference of nearly 300 ft. There was an increase in line
deviation while texting as well meaning that drivers swerved more within
their lanes when they had a phone in hand. All of the data gathered proves
that while texting, many necessary driving functions, including reaction
time, and movement within a traffic lane decrease. Proving that texting
while driving, without a doubt inhibits and impairs driving ability (Drews et
al).
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Let’s a take an even deeper look into how the brain functions and why
multi-tasking or being distracted inhibits us while driving. As quoted in the
article The Human Brain Does Not Multitask, posted on a law firm website,
the brain has six steps it needs to go through for one action: selection,
process, encoding, storage, retrieval, and execute. These six steps are taken
for every action we make. Let’s break down each process in order to better
understand our brains and why multitasking affects our driving to such a
great degree. Referring back to the human brain article it informs us:
1.) Selection: The brain processes information to focus on
2.) Process: The brain begins to process through the visual, auditory,
and sensual data it is receiving.
3.) Encoding: the brain begins creating memory. The brain creates
memory by screening out distractions and prioritizing attention.
During this phase, the brain is particularly affected by distractions
and diversions of attention.
4.) Storage: the brain begins storing the information in short-term
memory. Not everything is stored in memory. The brain makes
decisions during the encoding process what things are to be stored.
5.) Retrieval: The brain must access stored information.
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6.) Execute: The brain chooses and implements a course of action
(“The Human Brain Does Not Multi-Task”).
Knowing this information allows us to better understand our brains, and
what goes on with each action.
Having our attention spread across multiple tasks causes slower
reaction times. According to an article written by Robert Britt, the average
cell phone user who is driving inhibits reaction time by eight percent (Britt).
In 2002, those who used cell phones while driving led to 2,600 deaths, and
333,000 injuries in the United States. This is about 400 less than the 3,020
fatalities caused in 2011 that we stated before. The studies showing the
decrease in braking time, and the growing annually statistics both support
the fact that texting while driving impairs ability, and increases the
likelihood of an accident.
With all this information and data we need change our attitudes
toward distracted driving. The stats don’t lie. Distracted driving is
dangerous, and causes accidents and fatalities every day. All it takes is one
time. In addition to the physical dangers of distracted driving, it is also
against the law in many locations, although the different laws differ from
state to state. Let’s take a deeper look at the states and the possible
regulations they have put in place.
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Currently, there are no federal laws regarding distracted driving, each
state’s government handles its own regulations. The differences in each
states law, type of enforcement and punishments has led to disparities
between states in distracted driving deterrence. The different state laws
regarding phone-related distracted driving range from, banning all phone
use, handheld phone use, to only outlawing text messaging. Each state also
decides whether those laws will have Primary Enforcement, meaning an
officer may stop and cite a driver for using a hand-held cell phone without
any other traffic offense taking place, or Secondary Enforcement, which
only allows a citation to occur if the person was stopped for a different
offense. The biggest inconsistency lies in the varying penalties for each
individual state, which range from $20.00 - $10,000.00, if caught.
According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, no state
bans all cell phone use for all drivers, but thirty-seven states and
Washington, D.C. ban all cell phone use by novice drivers. The age for a
novice driver also varies by
state. The cutoff age for
being a novice in most
states, including Utah, is
Figure 12 Novice driver cell phone ban google
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eighteen years old. The remaining states that have a law have the cutoff at
seventeen years old, or twelve months of safe driving. Only eighteen states,
and D.C, have an all cell phone ban for school bus drivers. Utah is not one of
them (“Distracted Driving Laws”).
The GHSA also
reports that twelve
states, D.C., Puerto
Rico, Guam and the
U.S. Virgin Islands
prohibit all drivers from
Figure 13 Handheld phone ban google
using hand-held cell phones while driving. Beginning in October 2013, all
of the laws in these areas will be primary enforced, meaning an officer will
be able to cite drivers just for seeing a phone in their hand. There is not a
handheld phone ban in Utah. Washington was the first state to pass a texting
while driving ban, back in 2007. Forty-one states, including Utah, D.C.,
Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands currently ban text messaging
for all of the drivers within their state. Every state except Iowa, Florida,
Nebraska, and Ohio has primary enforcement on those laws (“Distracted
Driving Laws”).
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Jim Turner of The Miami Herald reports that Florida is the most
recent state to pass a law outlawing texting while driving, but critics say the
law is too lenient because it is a secondary offense, which means drivers
may only be ticketed if they are pulled over for other infractions, and the
measure provides exemptions for the use of GPS devices, talk-to-text
technology and for reporting criminal behavior. It also allows texting while
stopped, such as at red lights (Turner).
The penalties
for being caught
text-handed vary
between states.
According to a
study conducted by
Online Auto
Insurance, Alaska
Figure 14 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
has the toughest penalties for texting and driving with a maximum penalty of
$10,000.00, and up to one year in prison. It is important to note that the
actual fine for texting while driving likely doesn't typically reach the
$10,000.00 limit. Cindy Franklin, Anchorage's municipal prosecutor, says
that she has never personally seen a texting-while-driving violation handled
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by her office, but that the typical fine for a misdemeanor like this would
likely be around $1,500.00 — with $1,000.00 of that suspended — if the
offender has a relatively clean history and wasn't acting as a "menace on the
road." She says a $1,000.00 active fine would be about the maximum range
for the offense (“States with the Hardest and Weakest Penalties for Texting
While Driving”).
Utah is next on the list of states with the toughest driver texting laws,
with a maximum fine of $750.00 for a first offense. If someone is texting
while driving in Utah and causes a fatal crash while driving in a "criminally
negligent manner," the offense is considered a third-degree felony, which
brings with it a maximum $10,000.00 fine and maximum prison term of
fifteen years. According to the Matt Richtel of the New York Times, passage
of Utah’s strict law was spurred by an incident in September 2006 in which
a nineteen-year-old college student crossed lanes into opposite traffic while
texting and driving and ended up clipping an oncoming vehicle. The vehicle
ended up crashing into a pickup on the road, and both occupants died
(Richtel).
On the other end of the spectrum, the state of Virginia has the weakest
penalty for texting while driving with a fine of $20.00, which is only a
secondary offense. However, in the current legislative session, lawmakers
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are considering making enforcement primary (meaning police could pull
drivers over solely for a texting offense) and increasing the fine for the
offense. The Virginia legislature originally asked for a $250.00 fine for a
first offense, but the governor has asked that the amount be dropped down to
$125.00 (McKinney). Iowa has the second most lenient laws with a fine of
$30.00, which is also a secondary offense.
The facts show that distracted driving is dangerous. Statistics show
that it increases the risk of being in an accident. It kills thousands of drivers,
and pedestrians, like Calli Ann Murray, every year. The simple truth is that
if you drive distracted you are making the roadway less safe for yourself and
others, and that’s not fair. So do yourself and everyone else a favor, and
don’t drive distracted.