Deadly Distractions for Drivers
The war against distracted driving is heating up. According to theU.S. government, distracted driving killed nearly 5,500 people and injured 450,000 more in 2009 alone. Drivers are seeing (hopefully, without being distracted) an increasing number of billboards with slogans such as "One text or call could end it all". The Canadian Automobile Association sponsored anInternational Conference on Distracted Drivingin Toronto on March 1, 2012.
The culprits which are getting the most attention nowadays are communication devices and other technogadgets. Taking a phone call on a hand-held device, texting, or gazing at the GPS diverts the driver's attention. Even something as simple as adjusting the climate control or changing the channel on the radio can make a serious difference. Let your co-pilot take care of those details. If you are alone, wait until you have stopped the car.
Non-technological distractions have been around ever since the automobile was invented. Smoking seems harmless enough - until you drop the cigarette in your lap and burn yourself. Like smoking, eating and drinking require the driver to remove at least one hand from the steering wheel. If a piece of food goes down the wrong way and the driver starts to choke, the situation can easily become deadly. People have been known to comb their hair, play Scrabble, put on make-up, and engage in sexual foreplay while driving. If you really want to do these activities in your car, park it first.
Unrestrained pets in a moving car can be a deadly hazard. If Rover or Pussy get excited or frightened, they might dive under the dashboard or onto the driver's lap. Attempts to control them will make the driver oblivious to everything else. Animals travel most safely in a pet carrier that is securely fastened down.
Other passengers can be a blessing by preventing boredom, but they can also be distracting. Squabbling children, back-seat driving, and arguments can take the driver's mind off the road. Train your children in travelling etiquette from an early age, and enforce your rules without mercy. If the conversation heats up, pull off the road and chill out.
Human emotions can be deadly, particularly for a people who are in denial and do not realize that their abilities are not as sharp as usual. Drivers who have been recently bereaved often have accidents because they are preoccupied and not able to pay full attention to what they were doing. It's safer to stay off the road for a few days, and be particularly careful during the months to come. People in stressful situations, such as a husband taking his wife to the hospital while she is in labour, are well advised to arrange for a friend to do the driving if at all possible.
To stay safe, keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and your mind on what you are doing. If you want to look at something, fix something, eat or drink something, smoke, or yell at somebody, pull off the road. The break will do you good.
To better understand the full effect of distractions, try some of thesedriving simulationsprovided by the CAA.
