Distracted Driving

Distracted Driving P. Valentino March 25, 2013

Distracted or inattentive driving is when a driver engages in any activity that might distract them from the primary task of driving and increases their risk of crashing. • While many motorists may perceive driving as a routine activity, attentive driving is critical as the traffic environment changes constantly and drivers must be prepared to react. Learning Fact:

Distracted driving is any non-driving activity that takes the driver’s attention from the primary task of operating the vehicle and increases the risk of crashing. • There are three main types of distraction: What is Distracted Driving

Visual—taking your eyes off the road • Manual—taking your hands off the wheel • Cognitive—taking your mind off your driving Three main types of Distractions

Using a cell phone • Eating, drinking, or grooming • Talking to passengers • Reading, including map reading • Using a PDA or navigation system • Watching a video • Changing the radio station, CD, or Mp3 player • Texting Activities that can distract a Driver

Using a cell phone while driving delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. • Talking with another passenger can also be distracting, but a passenger may warn the driver if there is suddenly a dangerous situation on the road. Distraction Tips

The NHTSA estimates that more than half a million people are injured and • nearly 6,000 die annually in crashes involving a distracted driver. • Most dangerous of all is texting because it involves all three types of distraction—visual, manual, and cognitive. NHTSA

Shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. • At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, • including the end zones, without looking at the road. • Drivers who text are more than 20 times more likely to get into an accident than nondistracted drivers. Research

Phones. Phone conversations pull your focus off the road, whether hands-free or not. • Texting all three Visual, Manual, Cognitive. • Adjusting Controls. Set music, air and mirrors before driving. • Eating or Drinking. Avoid eating and reaching for food or drink. • Reading. GPS devices, as well as maps, newspapers and books are all serious distractions. Pull over to study a map, and know trip directions in advance. • Drowsy Driving. Drive well-rested. If you feel tired, exit and find a place to rest an open window and loud music won’t help. Distractions Are the Reasons Inattentive Driving Accounts for traffic crashes

March 07, 2013 statewide texting-while-driving ban that has eluded passage for several years is again moving through the Florida Legislature. • The Senate Communications committee is considering Opponents have long likened it to needless government intrusion, but supporters say the measure will save lives. • The bill outlaws texting by drivers but exempts police and other emergency vehicles. • The proposed law makes texting subject to secondary enforcement. • Police could cite drivers for it only if they had been pulled over for another violation such as speeding. • A violation would lead to a fine and — if texting resulted in a crash — the driver would be assessed six points. Points lead to increased insurance rates. Florida House Bill (SB 52).

Children Misbehaving • 90 percent of school bus accidents occurred as a result of the driver being distracted by students misbehaving. • Kids really need to be trained to stay in their seats, even if they do not have seat belts, and not to make too much noise. • Drivers should tell children to cross the road in front of the bus, not behind, and make sure that all the children who exited at that stop are accounted for before driving off again. School Bus Drivers Distractions

Along with the extra distractions from students and so on, school bus drivers also have to contend with difficult weather conditions, just like any other driver, and also have to make lots of stops and starts along their journey. School Bus Drivers Distractions

Defective equipment can be a cause of school bus crashes. Defective Equipment

Driver negligence can lead to mishaps on a school bus. • Drivers must manage children's behavior and at the same time keep their mind, plus their eyes, on the road ahead and behind them. Driver Negligence

School bus accidents can also occur due to the carelessness of those outside the school bus. • Also, a pedestrian not paying attention can cause a bus driver to hit him. School Bus Accidents

Overload school buses. • Due to budget cuts. Bus Distractions

Promote Distraction-Free Driving • Announce Your Commitment to Employee SafetyIntroduce your cell phone policy. • Distribute the policy and give employees time to read and react to it. • Create a 12-Month Safety Calendar – You should promote distraction-free driving all year, but build on momentum of safety events during logical times of the year, like April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month. • Use Posters, Web Banners and Fact Sheets from NSCThe National Safety Council provides many resources to help promote the prevention of distracted driving. Our Cell Phone Policy Kit provides ready-to-use materials. What Can Be Done

Cooper Color Code Driving Awareness

Questions and Answers The End

Distracted Driving