1. Gail Weinholzer Director of Public Affairs AAA Minnesota/Iowa
Distracted Driving
Gail Weinholzer
Director of Public Affairs
AAA Minnesota/Iowa

2. An Overview of Distracted Driving
What
Who
Why
Where
When
How

3. What is distracted driving?
Visual – takes your eyes off the road
Cognitive – takes your mind off the road
Manual – takes your hands off the wheel
Auditory – takes your focus away from driving

4. What effect does distracted driving have on crashes?
According to the Minnesota DPS between :
Nearly 60,000 crashes
216 fatalities
1,037 A-injuries
According to NHTSA in 2008:
Nearly 6,000 people were killed nationwide
More than 500,000 injured

5. Who is driving distracted?
The worst offenders with technology are the youngest and least- experienced drivers: men and women under 20 years of age. (NHTSA)
But, distraction is not just a teenagers’ issue
Older adults are gaining access/comfort with technology
Ex. 90% of all drivers own a cell phone
Parents, as role models, are teaching children to drive in a distracted manner
And, its not just a technology issue
Eating, drinking, grooming, etc

6. Why is distracted driving dangerous?
Perception- whether and when we notice something
Judgment- deciding how we should react
Action- reacting
Individually each is dangerous
Collectively they can be deadly

7. Why is distracted driving becoming more prominent?
Our perceived need to be more connected
Availability/affordability of technology
Busier lifestyles lead to multitasking
Use of all types of technology is increasing in vehicles (Ford and Audi while the rest are sure to follow)

8. Where and when does distracted driving most prominently occur?
According to the Minnesota DPS:
45% of distracted driving crashes occur on CSAH and Minnesota trunk highways
50% of distracted driving crashes occur between 12pm-6pm

9. How much more dangerous is being distracted?
Using a cell phone delay’s a driver’s reaction time as much as a .08 B.A.C. (University of Utah)
Talking on a cell phone reduces brain activity while driving by 37% (Carnegie Mellon)
Cell phone use quadruples crash likelihood (National Safety Council)
Hands-free is not significantly safer than handheld (IIHS and NSC)

10. How do drivers feel about distracted driving?
35% of drivers feel less safe today than they did five years ago and distracted driving was the most common reason cited.
Ranks second (83%) only to impaired drivers (88%) as the leading concern of driver behaviors
Do as I say, not as I do
67 % of all drivers admit to talking on a cell phone
21 % of all drivers admit to texting

11. How should we deal with distracted driving?
Education
Personally- all drivers should be educated on the dangers of distracted driving via earned and paid media, brochures, drivers ed. classes, driver improvement classes, etc
Professionally- employers should establish distracted driving policies as they apply to company time, vehicles and technology (MNSC policies)

12. How should we deal with distracted driving?
Enforcement
Statute prohibits cell phone use by provisional teen drivers and bus drivers
Statute prohibits text messaging by all drivers
Approximately 300 convictions/citations were issued in 2009 for text messaging

13. Local News 3/20/2010 Cops: Tot killed as driver gets cell phone
Authorities have dropped an inattentive driving citation so they can consider more serious charges over the crash that killed a 14-month-old in Columbia Heights.
Source: Star Tribune

14. How should we deal with distracted driving?
Roadway Engineering
Center line and shoulder rumble strips
Median cable barriers
Vehicle Engineering
Lane departure warning systems
Collision mitigation braking
MyKey™ technology- speed, audio

15. How should we deal with distracted driving?
Legislation
Item by item
Cell phones- hand held versus hands free
Reactive- chasing bad behavior
Comprehensive- yet nonspecific
A few states have enacted them- Utah, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut
Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, etc

16. Maine’s Comprehensive DD Law
§2118. Failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle
1. Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Operation of a motor vehicle while distracted" means the operation of a motor vehicle by a person who, while operating the vehicle, is engaged in an activity:
(1) That is not necessary to the operation of the vehicle; and
(2) That actually impairs, or would reasonably be expected to impair, the ability of the person to safely operate the vehicle.

17. How can I manage distractions?
Recognize that driving requires your full attention
If you have a passenger, ask them to assist as needed
Take a break to eat, drink, make calls, etc.
Allow plenty of time for breaks during your trip
Get plenty of rest- its harder to pay attention when you’re tired

18. Additional Resources Web sites of interest: www.aaapublicaffairs.com

19. Good Advice! Unfailing Antidotes to Motor Accidents
Two rules, both of them simple and easy to remember are all that any motorist needs to know and observe to obtain complete immunity from accidents. They are:
1- KEEP YOUR MIND ON THE OPERATION OF YOUR CAR WHILE IT IS IN MOTION.
2- KEEP YOUR MACHINE UNDER EASY CONTROL AT ALL TIMES.
No other rules are necessary, and the driver who lives up to these two simple admonitions conscientiously will carry with him at all times the very best accident insurance that there is in the world.

20. Good Advice is Timeless!
Article Published
June 1921 by the Pioneer Press

21. Thank you!
Contact information:
Gail Weinholzer
office number