Managing Distractions Driver’s Education Ch. 8 Managing Distractions

CH. 8 VOCABULARY Auditory distraction- Driver inattention- Biomechanical distraction- Cognitive distraction- Distracted driving- Gawking- Projectile- Rubbernecking- Visual distraction-

Driver Inattention and Distractions 8.1

Inattentive drivers Drivers who reach for items on the dash or in the glove compartment, eat or drink while driving, listen to the radio, or talk on the cell phone are inattentive drivers. Driver inattention is a major factor in most crashes and near-crashes. A study showed that 80% of crashes and at least 65% of near- crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds prior to the crash. Driving is a COMPLEX task. Driver inattention is when a driver’s awareness and focus drift to anything other than the driving task.

Distracted Driving When an event, person, activity, or object draws a driver’s attention away from the driving task, is an example of distracted driving. Distraction occurs when a driver chooses to do something that is not necessary to the driving task. A key difference between driver distraction and driver inattention is that driver distraction is caused by an event that directs the focus of a driver away from the driving task.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) The NHTSA groups driver distractions into those that occur inside the vehicle or those that occur outside the vehicle. A cognitive distraction is when your mind is lost in thought or in a daydream. Talking on the cell phone while driving is a cognitive distraction. A visual distraction is anything that causes you to take your eyes off the roadway ahead. An auditory distraction is any distraction caused by sounds. Two examples of auditory distractions are a crying child or a siren. Any mechanical act not specifically related to driving that is performed by a driver is a biomechanical distraction. Examples of this are pushing a button, turning a dial, or picking up a drink.

What can you do? If you are fatigued you can stop and stretch, switch drivers, or get a soft drink. Also take control of the environment inside your vehicle by setting rules for passengers. Read the owner’s manual to understand how to work the controls and particular features in the car.

8.2 Distractions inside the Vehicle Driver distraction or inattentive driving are estimated to play a part in one out of every four motor vehicle crashes. About 1.5 million collisions each year and more than 4,300 crashes each day in the US. AAA stands for American Automotive Association. AAA suggests that when a driver’s eyes are away from the driving scene ahead for more than two seconds, the odds of being in a crash or near-crash double.

They start young!!

Things that Driver’s Use Cell Phones For! Talk Send or receive Text messages Share Pictures Access internet Use as navigational device Update Facebook Put pictures on instagram

Cell Phones Carrying on a conversation on a cell phone while driving causes a lack of focus on the driving task since your attention is on the conversation. While talking on a cell phone many drivers unknowingly reduce their speed. Educating the public about the hazards of cell phone usage while driving, the introduction of hands free-technology, and even legislation in some states outlawing non-emergency cell phone usage while driving are some of the efforts being made to promote low-risk driving.

Advancements Advancements in technology have resulted in many different systems and components for vehicle safety, comfort, information, control, and entertainment. Drivers who are unfamiliar with new controls and displays can easily overload themselves with cognitive distractions. In some communities, local ordinances prohibit very loud volume levels. Responsible drivers keep their sound systems down to levels at which they are able to hear other vehicles around them and they do not distract others. A navigation system could be bad because driver’s focus can be diverted if they look at the screen and listen to the directions.

Other Distractions Animals and insects Food and drink Passengers Loose objects Projectiles are flying objects that could be a hazard to a driver or passenger.

8.3 Distraction outside the vehicle Driving distraction-free is not easy. It takes commitment and a constant effort to stay focused on the driving task. Animals, birds, reptiles and many other creatures have the potential to be distractions, even when they pose no hazard to a driver’s path of travel. If there is something you would like to get a better look at, look for a safe place to pull out of traffic and stop your vehicle.

Emergency Vehicles Emergency vehicles are common distractions to drivers. Gawking is when a person stares. Rubbernecking is when a person continually looks all around the scene. Gawking that causes a traffic backlog is often a major cause of rear- end collisions.