Distracted Driving – America ’ s Epidemic

1. Distracted Driving – America’s Epidemic

2. Distracted Driving • In 2010 distracted drivers caused: • 3,092 deaths • 416,000 injuries • Overall: • Cell phones are #1 driver distraction in US • 80% accidents due to driver distraction within 3 seconds of crash • Drivers using cell phones are 4X as likely to have an injury related crash • Same as DUI = .08% BAC • Drivers under 20 years old have highest % of fatal crashes due to distracted driving • 2/3 of victims are NOT the teen driver

3. Cell Phones Cause Multiple Distractions • Types of distraction • Cognitive • Visual • Manual • Cell phones cause all 3 types of distraction • Reduce cognitive brain activity needed for driving by 37% • Conversation reduces brain’s ability to notice visual cues = inattention blindness • The deeper the level of thought, the less a driver focuses on surroundings • Drivers less likely to: • Scan for hazards • Absorb critical information • Make correct decisions • React appropriately

4. How Driving Behavior is Affected • Hands free or not, cell phone users are: • 9% slower to brake • 19% slower to resume normal speed after braking • 24% variable in following distance • Cell phone users also: • Drift • Miss signs, signals, exits, brake lights • Leave the roadway • Experience high G-force event: • Hard braking • Hard steering • Rapid acceleration

5. Texting • Risk of accident 23X greater than talking on cell phone • Eyes off road for 2 seconds doubles chance of accident • Text takes eyes off road average of 4.6 seconds • At 55 mph a car travels the length of a football field with driver’s eyes off road • Typical teen sends and receives 100 texts per day

6. Please take out your cell phones

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10. What happened in 4.6 seconds?

11. Other Types of Distraction • Activities drivers report doing while driving: • 86% eat and drink • 41% set or change GPS • 36% read maps, books, newspaper, etc. • 20% comb or brush hair • 14% put on make up • 13% surf the internet • Other types of distraction: • Activity from pets or children • Adjusting radio/CD/air • Searching for an item • Insects • Fatigue

12. AAA Teen Specific Data • Teen girls 2X as likely as teen boys to use electronic devices while driving • Teen boys 2X as likely as teen girls to turn around in seat and communicate with people outside vehicle • Loud conversation and horseplay more than 2X as likely to occur with multiple teens in vehicle • Increases in serious incident • Horseplay – 2X • Loud conversation – 6X • All forms of distracted driving increase in older vs. younger teen drivers

13. Teens Aren’t the Only Culprits……. • Vast majority of adults far overestimate their ability to multi-task AAA study shows: • 69% drivers talked on cell while driving in past month • 89% believe other drivers on cell phones are a threat to their personal safety • For 98% of the population, likelihood of crash while using a cellphone increases 4X • State Farm study shows: • 53% parents admit to phone distraction while teaching teens to drive • 61% teens say parents are distracted by phone while teaching teens to drive • Consumer Reports study shows: • 48% teens say parents talk on cell while driving • 15% teens say parents text and drive • Both despite telling teens not to do the same

14. Parents Play an Important Role • Talk to you teen • Only 22% of parents talk to their teens about safe driving after teens get a license • Teens who do not text and drive report having frequent talks with parents about safe driving – 82% vs. 67% • Encourage teens to speak up • Only 1/3 teens would say something to a driver who is texting or talking on a cell phone vs. 50% adults • Be the example • Know the PA law • Make the pledge StreetSafe recommends: • Silence your phone • Put it in glove box • Play it safe for yourself and your family

15. The Driving Environment Has Changed • More vehicles • 254M today • Average increase of 3.69M each year since 1960 • More larger vehicles • 92% light duty trucks • Trucks • 2M today • Move 70% freight across US • Tonnage expected to increase 30% by 2018 • 600,000 more trucks needed • Car/truck accidents - don’t blame the professionals • Congestion • In 2011 Americans traveled 5.5 billion additional hours • 2.9 billion gallons of fuel • $121 Billion

16. The Driving Environment Has Changed • US Roads • Highway lane miles grew only 3.5% since 1980 • Deteriorating road conditions • Wear and tear on vehicles • Increased accidents and delays • Increased number of construction zones • Higher average speed vs. decade ago • 7 out of 10 drivers exceed speed limit • Only 1 out of 10 speed zones have 50% compliance • Average of 12 mph over legal limit • Aggressive Driving • Speeding • Lane weaving • Improper passing • Tailgating • Running red lights and stop signs

17. The Driving Environment Has Changed • Road Rage • Gestures • Engaging another driver through hostile behavior • Aggressive driving and road rage cause 1500 deaths per year • Primary causes: • More time in vehicle • Frustration • Anonymity • False sense of safety • Power associated with vehicle • Most people do not recognize their own behavior • Distractions

18. Preparing Your Teen To Drive Safely • Provide more experience • More time BTW, 100 - 120 hours before testing for a junior license • Greater variety of settings and conditions • Maintain the learners permit for 1 full year • Set rules to minimize distractions • No other teen passengers for first 6 months after getting a junior license • No use of cell phones or any electronic devices • Take the training process seriously • Start early • Get help • Sign parent teen contract • Be consistent in your attitude • Clean up your own driving habits • Remember that driving is a privilege not a right

19. Questions and Answers