COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Many may think that drunk driving and driving fatigued are the most dangerous choices you can make in an automobile. In recent years, automobile accidents due to distracted driving have increased significantly. Distracted driving is comprised of three different categories: manual- hands off the wheel, visual- eyes off the road, and cognitive- mind off driving. With more and more people connecting through technology, the demand for instant knowledge, feedback, and cell phone use continues to increase especially behind the wheel. These tendencies are leading to major issue on the roads.
Distracted driving facts:
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, in 2017 alone, 3,166 people were killed in vehicles while distracted driving.
- One in four car accidents is caused by distracted driving. It is estimated that 1.6 million crashes a year are caused by texting and driving alone. (NHTSA)
- Ten percent of all fatal car accidents in 2015 were distraction-related. (NHTSA)
- Distracted driving is responsible for more than 58% of teen crashes. (NHTSA)
Most people know distracted driving as texting and driving. While cell phone use is, the most prevalent, other factors also present a risk. The three main types of distracted driving are manual, visual, and cognitive distractions. Manual distraction includes things like taking your hands off the wheel to do your makeup or eating while driving. Visual distractions involve taking your eyes off the road and cognitive distractions occur when your mind is not focused on the road. For example, thinking about issues at work/home or talking on your cell phone.
While all of these are dangerous actions to perform on their own, texting while driving utilizes all three of the distracted driving tendencies. To put it in perspective, one text message takes about five seconds to send. If you were driving at 55 mph, you would have driven an entire football field length with your hands, eyes, and mind off the road.
We live in a world where everything around us is fast-paced and constantly changing. The touch of a screen has made information readily available and gratification almost immediate. Reading a text message or an email behind the wheel is not worth your life, it can wait. Take charge now by educating the people around you on the dangers of distracted driving and make a conscious effort to avoid falling victim yourself. Distracted driving is a major cause of accidents and is avoidable my simply putting done your cell phone and other distractions and focusing on the road.