Distractions while Driving Module 7 Day 9 Distractions while Driving

Driving Distractions and Auto Insurance Whether it's talking on a cell phone or fiddling with the car stereo, most people have been guilty of distracted driving. Though it may seem like a minor offense, distracted driving is serious business. 80% of car crashes involve a driver being distracted three seconds before an accident. Even worse, studies have shown that a driver holding a cell phone is as dangerous as a drunk driver. 

What's Distracted Driving? The term "distracted driving" refers to anything that takes your hands, eyes or mind off of the road. With all the gadgets and gizmos in modern vehicles, there are plenty of distractions to go around. Cell phones, stereos, satellite navigation systems, in-car televisions, DVD players, and even video game consoles!

Driving Distractions and Your Auto Insurance Rate Of the factors that affect auto insurance rates, your driving record has the greatest impact. If you have a car accident and it goes on your driving record, your auto insurance company will see you as a risky driver to insure, which usually translates to a higher auto insurance rate. Depending on a host of variables, your auto insurance rate could jump 40% or more following an accident.

Common Driving Distractions The distracted driver is almost always pictured holding a cell phone. And even though people who talk on their phone while driving have a 34% higher risk of a collision (Texas Department of Transportation), people do many other strange things while behind the wheel.

Common Driving Distractions People do everything from brush their teeth to make their kids' peanut butter sandwiches. People eat, tie their ties, shave, use GPS systems or change CDs. Some people read books and newspapers, or send e-mails with their smart phones.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions In this chapter, you will learn about driver inattention and several different types of driver distractions. You will also learn how to keep distractions from removing your focus from the driving task.

Eliminating Driving Distractions Don't eat or drink while driving. Spills can easily cause an accident. If you have to stop short, you could also be severely burned by hot beverages.  Shaving, putting on makeup, combing your hair and other forms of grooming are best done at home.  Don't take notes while driving. If you need to jot down a reminder, use a tape recorder or pull to the side of the road.  Don't drive while talking on the telephone or texting. If a call must be placed, pull off the road to a safe location. Let your voice mail pick up your calls in tricky driving situations. It's safer and easier to retrieve your messages later.

Eliminating Driving Distractions You aren't the only one who can get distracted behind the wheel. Be aware of other drivers -- people who are drifting in and out of their lane, those who are eating, smoking, dealing with their kids, or talking on cell phones -- as their attention may not be 100% on the road.

Distractions & Driving Answer the following questions in your spiral: What are some possible distractions you face or you think you will face when driving? When you drive, are you easily distracted, or are you able to cope with distractions better than others? If you have never driven before, do you think you will be easily distracted, or will you be able to handle multiple distractions?

Distractions & Driving In your spiral, list as many distractions and hazards that you see in the picture.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions Many different things can distract you while driving. Some distractions come from inside the vehicle and others from outside the vehicle. Key Idea How can you manage distractions that take your focus away from the driving task?

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions Drivers who reach for items on the dash or in the glove compartment, eat or drink while driving, tune the radio, or chat on a cell phone are inattentive drivers. In one study, it was determined that 80% of crashes and at least 65% of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within 3 seconds prior to the crash.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions Driver Inattention and Distracted Driving Safe driving requires drivers to stay focused on the driving task. When a driver’s awareness and focus drift to anything other than the driving task, it is called driver inattention. When an event, person, activity, or object draws a driver’s attention away from the driving task, it is an example of distracted driving.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions What’s the difference between driver distraction and driver inattention? In general, driver distraction is caused by an event that directs the focus of a driver away from the driving task If a drink falls out of its holder and spills onto the floor while a driver is making a turn, the driver is likely to become distracted, as he or she quickly focuses on the falling cup instead of the turn. Driver inattention does not necessarily deal with a specific event.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions Distraction Classification Cognitive Distractions A cognitive distraction is when your mind is lost in thought or in a daydream. You are not focusing mentally on the primary task of driving. Visual Distractions A visual distraction is anything that causes you to take your eyes off the roadway ahead.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions Distraction Classification Auditory Distractions Any distractions caused by sounds are auditory distractions. A crying child or a siren can divert a driver’s attention away from the driving task. Biomechanical Distractions Any mechanical act not specifically related to driving that is performed by a driver is a biomechanical act. This includes pushing a button, turning a dial or picking up a CD or soft drink.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions: What does the cartoon suggest will happen if you text while driving?

Draw the following table in your spiral: Type of Distraction How it Distracts How to Cope 1. 10.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions 1. Cell Phones Distractions such as reaching to pick up a cell phone, making or receiving a call, and sending or receiving text messages are common with cell phone usage. Carrying a conversation on the phone while driving causes a lack of focus on the driving task since your attention is not on the driving task (Cognitive Distraction). How can you avoid this distraction? Do not talk on the phone and drive. If you need to make or take a call, pull over first.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions 2. Vehicle Equipment or Controls Many of today’s vehicles are equipped with video entertainment systems. Elaborate vehicle surround systems have capabilities that can hinder a driver’s ability to hear other vehicles that can create an audible distraction to people outside the vehicle. A driver’s focus can be diverted because they look at the screen, listen to directions, or try to input data into the system while driving. How can you manage this distraction as a driver? Input data before driving when possible.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions 3. Animals and Insects A driver that is allergic to bee stings may panic and focus all attention to a bee in the car instead of the road ahead and surrounding traffic. Before driving, check to see if there are any insects in the car. If you are already driving and notice an insect, stay calm and pull over when safe to deal with the situation.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions Holding a pet while driving is not only an unsafe behavior, it also places the pet at a higher risk of being injured or killed should a crash occur. If you have a pet, invest in a pet safety belt and make sure you use it anytime you have your pet in the vehicle.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions 4. Food or Drink Eating or drinking while driving can create both visual and biomechanical distractions. Drivers may look at their food instead of the road, and when they remove a hand from the wheel to hold the food or drink, they leave only one hand to control the steering wheel. In extreme cases, drivers have been seen driving along with both hands holding food and drink items. Avoid eating and drinking when driving. Pull over if possible to eat and drink.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions 5. Passengers The behavior of passengers can easily distract a driver. Yelling or screaming, engaging in loud or emotional conversations, turning up the sound-system volume, or tossing objects around inside the vehicle can easily divert a driver’s attention away from the roadway. If a passenger becomes disruptive, and the behavior continues after asking them to stop, pull over safely, stop the vehicle, and resolve the situation before getting back into traffic. Limit the number of passengers you have in your vehicle.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions Research has shown that young, novice drivers are more likely to be distracted by peers in the vehicle while driving than older, more experienced drivers. As the number of passengers increases, so does the likelihood of driver distraction and the risk of being involved in a crash.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions 6. Loose Objects Objects hanging from the rearview mirror could move or fall due to a sudden stop or turn taken too quickly. The same is true for items placed on top of the dashboard or the rear window ledge. Such objects could even become projectiles, flying objects that could be a hazard to a driver or passenger. Before driving, clear all areas of loose objects, and secure or place them so they won’t move around and become distractions or projectiles.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions 7. Animals Outside the Vehicle 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. When drivers experience a situation involving an animal or bird that they rarely see, they often take their eyes off the road for more than a quick glance. If there is something that you would like to get a better look at, look for a safe place to pull out of traffic and stop the vehicle. Then take the time to appreciate the view or take a picture.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions 8. Objects Outside the Vehicle While driving, you will come across some unusual objects on or along the road such as debris that has fallen off vehicles, signs and billboards, parked and disabled vehicles. These objects can be visual distractions. Focus on your orderly visual search pattern and zones.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions 9. Emergency Vehicles Emergency vehicles are common distractions to drivers. Drivers often take their attention away from their immediate path of travel to try to see the emergency vehicle. If there are passengers in your vehicle, ask them to help you find the emergency vehicle. This allows you to maintain your focus on the driving scene ahead.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions 10. Scenes and Events Crash and fire scenes. Two major forms of distraction associated with crash scenes are gawking, which is when a person stares, and rubbernecking, which is when a person continually looks all around a scene. Gawking is often what causes the traffic back-ups, not the actual crash. Keep your eyes on the target ranges.

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions

Chapter 8 Managing Distractions 11. Public Events Imagine trying to exit a stadium parking lot after a major sporting event with pedestrians walking and running all around you. This is a high risk situation. Not only do you have to pay attention to the traffic ahead and to the sides, but you also have to pay attention to the crowds and their actions. As a driver, try to stay focused on the roadway and driving task ahead. Don’t allow yourself, your actions, or your vehicle to become a distraction to others.