Athletes prepare for competition. Leaders prepare for speeches. Teachers prepare their lessons. Pilots prepare to fly.

Your emotional state affects the way you drive and the way you respond to other drivers.

Your health affects the way you drive also!

Your attitude may be the most important thing of all; in driving and all parts of your life!

Why do you think Idaho has a Zero Tolerance Law for persons under age 21? Why do some people choose not to use alcohol or other drugs? DRUGS: To use or not to use?

Your Choices and Responsibilities  List some short-term and long-term rewards.  List some short-term and long-term consequences.  Is alcohol and other drug use short- term or long term reward?  Are consequences of alcohol use short-term or long-term?  Easiest way to avoid the consequences is?

220 lbs 110 lbs 8 oz BAC Factors  Weight  Time Spent Drinking  Gender  Food  Alcohol Content  Size of Drink

Are They The Same ?  Beer  Whiskey  Wine  Cooler  Margarita

How Much Light Beer (Male) Weight BAC Ounces of BAC Ounces ofBAC Ounces of Male Light Beer Light Beer Light Beer oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz. Basic Assumption: 12 oz of Light Beer = 1 oz of 86 proof liquor

How Much Light Beer (Female) Weight BAC Ounces of BAC Ounces ofBAC Ounces of Female Light Beer Light Beer Light Beer oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz oz. Basic Assumption: 12 oz of Light Beer = 1 oz of 86 proof liquor

Elimination of Alcohol PROCESS TIME FACTORS Breath Urine Sweat } 10% LIVER 90% About BAC Reduction Per Hour Assumption: Adult male lbs. with normal liver function Therefore:BAC of 0.05 = 3.5 hours for removal BAC of 0.07 = 5.0 hours for removal BAC of 0.10 = 7.0 hours for removal BAC of 0.15 = 10.0 hours for removal

Elimination Rate Stops 1:00INTOXICATED LEGALLY 6:00AM IMPAIRED 9:30AM ABSORPTIONELIMINATION HRS BAC

Alcohol Affects the Body Liver Heart Sexuality Sleep Stomach Brain

Alcohol Affects People Differently Tolerance Personality Mood Experience Fatigue Medication Weight Age

Psychological Effects of Alcohol Use  Attention  Memory  Emotions  Aggression  Tolerance

Alcohol and Space Management After drinking, the driver may tend to stare at the center line.

Impaired Vision  Side Vision  Color Distinction (street lights)  Eye Focus  Double Vision  Distance Judgment

Risk-Taking Problem The impaired brain is unable to make good judgments or smart decisions.

Chance of Death for ages by BAC levels BAC Increased Risk of Death and greater STUDY INCLUDES COMPARISON OF SINGLE VEHICLE COLLISIONS IN AGE GROUP

Drugs and Driving  Perception  Judgment  Coordination  Vision  Mood

Marijuana and Driving  Takes about 300 µg/kg to achieve a high  Effects at 300 µg/kg:  Tracking  Following Distance  Vigilance  Divided Attention

Other Types of Drugs and Driving Over the Counter Medications Over the Counter Medications Tranquilizers Stimulants Narcotics Prescription Medications These can all affect driving behaviors and abilities

Fatigue is:  A Body Response  Follows a Period of: Extended mental activity Extended bodily activity  Characterized by: Reduced capacity for work Reduced efficiency of accomplishment Definition of Fatigue

Causes of Fatigue  Emotional Stress  Sleep Disorders  Extended Physical Activity  Disruption of Circadian Rhythm  Sleepy time of night: 12 a.m to 6 a.m  Sleepy time of day: 1 p.m to 3 p.m

Physical Symptoms of Fatigue  Tired Muscles  General Body Sensation of Tiredness  Sleepiness  A Tired Feeling in the Head

Physical Symptoms of Fatigue  Localized Pain in Back of Head  Pain and Soreness in Muscles  Stiffness in Joints  Swelling of Hands and Feet

Mental Symptoms of Fatigue  Inability to Keep Fixed Attention  Impaired Memory  Failure to Grasp New Ideas  Difficulty/Slowness in Reasoning

Delaying Fatigue Onset  Avoid Long Drives Unless Fit  Avoid Leaning Forward  Avoid Driving Long Stretches  Keep Your Eyes Moving  Let in Fresh Air

Delaying Fatigue Symptoms  Change Drivers at Regular Intervals  Wear Your Safety Belt  Avoid Getting Angry  Proper Adjustment of heating/air

Tired vs. Drunk Studies show that tired drivers are just as dangerous, or more dangerous, than alcohol-impaired drivers on the road! How many people in this classroom are tired today? Drunk?

Aggressive Driving Speeding Running signs or lights Tailgating Weaving in and out of traffic Failing to yield the right of way Cutting off other drivers Yelling or honking your horn at other drivers

Road Rage When aggressive driving becomes violent it is road rage Pursuing another vehicle in a chase Leaving your car to confront another driver Intentionally bumping or ramming another car. Physically assaulting another driver Using a car as a weapon Displaying a weapon Firing a gun or using another weapon

Road Rage! Formula for Road Rage + More Cars Less Space More Driver Interactions Increased cultural disrespect and selfishness =

Self-Imposed Anxieties  “I’m going to be late if I don’t hurry up.”  “Why are these cars going so slow?”  “We’ll never make it.”  “If only I had gone a little faster, I could’ve made it.”  “Oh no! Red light!”

Anger Containment Techniques  Don’t respond  Don’t engage  Don’t up the ante  Swallow your pride  Choose the road “less traveled”  What is there to prove, really?

Dealing with Anger How will you respond?

Reducing Driver Distractions Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Driver Distractions Each year, more than 40,000 people are killed in motor vehicle crashes and over three million are injured! Research indicates that driver distraction is a contributing factor in more than 25% of all crashes Source: AAA Foundation Research

Bright vehicle lights Billboards and signs Driver being chased by police Officer directing traffic Animal in roadway (deer, dog, elk, etc. ) DRIVER DISTRACTIONS- Outside the Vehicle Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Sunrise, sunset People in roadway (child, basketball game, crowd, etc) Objects in the roadway (broken glass, garbage can, etc. holes) Crash scene DRIVER DISTRACTIONS- Outside the Vehicle Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Eating or drinking Other occupants in the vehicle Moving object in vehicle All actions involved with smoking can be a distraction DRIVER DISTRACTIONS- Inside the Vehicle Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

DRIVER DISTRACTIONS- Inside the Vehicle Dialing, talking, texting or looking up information on a cell phone Adjusting radio, cassette, or CD Using device/object in the vehicle Using vehicle devices or controls Picking up a dropped object Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Problems with Driver Distractions are not New Some of the “old” distractions that continue to cause problems are children and babies, cigarettes, drinks, radios and audio players, and insects or bugs that find their way into the vehicle. Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Newer” distractions include GPS navigation systems, digital music, On- Star roadside assistance, and cell phones. Problems with Driver Distractions are not New Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

New Issue or Old Issue? Windshield Wipers Radios Drive-Up Windows Mobile Phones , Internet, texting, etc. Driver Distractions from MP3 and DVD players

Driver Age Groups Distractions Drivers under age 20 are more likely than older drivers to be identified as distracted at the time of their crash year-olds use a cell phone frequently year-olds eat and drink more often in the car. 50 plus drivers are more distracted by outside objects and events. Photos courtesy of the AAA Foundation

When Distractions Lead to Collisions Distractions and inattention cause 68% of rear-end crashes. Other typical crashes include backing up, making lane changes, and merging. Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Reading and writing. Manipulating vehicle controls for extended periods of time. Focusing on an external distraction. Having emotionally charged discussion with passengers. Reaching for objects inside the vehicle. Dialing a cell phone. Carrying on a cell phone conversation. Performing grooming activities when the vehicle is moving. Texting High Risk Driving Distractions

High-risk drivers tend to have higher levels of no hands on the steering wheel, their eyes are directed inside rather than outside the vehicle, and their vehicles wander in the travel lane or cross into another travel lane. When Distractions Lead to Collisions Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Many states are passing, or looking into passing, laws regarding driver distractions. Distractions are Affecting Driver Laws

Much of this attention stems from the enormous increase in cell phone use by drivers and the prospect of similar growth in other in-vehicle technologies. Distractions are Affecting Driver Laws Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Cell phone & texting laws Handheld Cell Phones: 10 states, D.C., Guam and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving (this includes Washington State) Text Messaging: 38 states, D.C. and Guam now ban text messaging for all drivers. In Idaho this is a PRIMARY OFFENSE (law enforcement doesn’t need any other infraction/violation to pull you over and issue a citation for texting)

Idaho’s Texting Law A. TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. (1) As used in this section, "texting" means engaging in the review of, or manual preparation and transmission of, written communications via handheld wireless devices. This definition does not include voice-operated or hands free devices that allow the user to review, prepare and transmit a text message without the use of either hand except to activate, deactivate or initiate a feature or function. (2) Texting, as that term is defined in subsection (1) of this section, while driving a moving motor vehicle shall constitute an infraction provided this does not apply to voice-operated or hands free devices that allow the user to review, prepare and transmit a text message without the use of either hand except to activate, deactivate or initiate a feature or function. Every person who violates this section shall be guilty of an infraction.

New Vehicle Technology ─ Helpful or Harmful? Drivers must use new technology responsibly while driving. Electronic devices can enhance safety in many ways. When stuck in traffic, using a mobile phone to say you'll be late can reduce stress and make drivers less inclined to drive aggressively. Any activity that takes your attention from the road makes the driving task more dangerous! Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Vehicle navigation systems help drivers locate addresses and guide them to their destination. Wireless Internet and messaging are becoming the norm on my phones and in many new vehicles. In-vehicle DVD movie players are popular for passengers to pass time when going on a lengthy trip. Are movies a distraction for drivers? New Vehicle Technology- Helpful or Harmful? Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Consequences of Distracted Driving Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of collisions. It forces drivers to make sudden decisions. Drivers can easily be involved in a collision. Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Each year, more than 40,000 people are killed in motor vehicle crashes and over three million are injured. Distracted driving contributes to over 1,500,000 collisions each year. That’s 4,300 collisions each day 179 Collisions every hour. Consequences of Distracted Driving

Divided Attention Tasks Divided attention can lead to missed brake lights, missed traffic sign or signal, missed animal or pedestrian, or a drift out of the lane position. Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

A driver can learn to operate the vehicle with simple eye, hand, and feet coordination. However, the driving task is a mental process that needs constant attention to the path of travel in order to keep the vehicle within the lane space and adjust to any restrictions in the path of travel. Divided Attention Tasks Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

It is important to recognize that taking attention from the path of travel means the vehicle is moving on the roadway without the driver seeing where the vehicle is going or mentally processing any new information. Divided Attention Tasks Source: Unknown

It is critical never to look away from the path of travel for more than ½ second at a time without moving visual and mental attention back to the path of travel. Divided Attention Tasks Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Learning to drive involves learning how to develop divided attention to different tasks. Know how to operate the vehicle controls. Be able to keep the vehicle on the road. Be able to keep the vehicle in the lane. Be able to place the vehicle in different lane positions. Be able to avoid risk. Learning how to Handle Distractions Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

A "hands-free" apparatus may be helpful, but they can't prevent drivers from becoming involved in a conversation and losing concentration. If you must use a cell phone safely pull over to the side of the road. If drivers must respond to an emergency while driving, use speed dial features and a hands- free kit. Alert the caller that you are on the road. Keep calls as brief as possible. Cell Phone Strategies

Think you can? Think again…

Make sure children are comfortable and properly buckled up. To keep children from distracting the driver, provide them with safe items they may need for the road trip. Children and Driving

Give yourself a break from the traffic and enjoy your refreshments outside the car. Someone choking on food or spilling liquid in the vehicle can take the driver’s attention off the road. Food and Driving Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

Avoid reading while driving. Finish grooming before driving. Don't rely on the time in your vehicle to take care of personal routine such as applying make-up, combing hair or shaving. Other Strategies for Reducing Risk Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation

As a new driver, keep 100 percent of your attention on driving until you get better at doing multiple things at once in the car. CONCLUSION Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation