Combat Distracted Driving-Know the facts
Did you know there are three types of distracted driving?
Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
Visual: taking your eyes off the road
Cognitive: taking your mind off driving
What is the most dangerous type of distracted driving?
Texting..................................................................................it involves all three types of distracted driving.
Reading a text message takes your eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds. When driving at 55 miles an hour that is the same a driving the entire length of a football field blindfolded.
A lot can happen in that time, learn the facts about distracted driving, educated your friends, family and coworkers and practice safe driving.
What is distracted driving? It is any activity that could divert your attention away from your primary task, driving. All distractions endanger the driver, passenger and bystander's safety.
What are types of distracted driving?
Using a cell phone
Talking to passengers
Reading (including maps)
Using a navigation system
Watching a video
Adjusting the radio
And many many more.........
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What can you do?
Avoid any distractions while driving
If you must make a call when driving, use a hands free kit
Know the laws in your State
Talk to friends, family and coworkers about ways to avoid distracted driving
When you drive, only drive, everything else can wait
Pull over if you need to take a call or are tired
Be diligent of other drivers, just because you are not distracted doesn't mean other drivers aren't
Have a pledge or policy within your family or office that outlines unacceptable driving behavior
Distracted Driving Facts & Statistics
-An estimated 421,000 people were injured in crashes involving a distract driver in 2012, a 9% increase from 2011.
-Of these 3,328 people were killed in 2012
-That is more that 9 killed and 1,060 injured a day!
-At any given daylight moment in America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or using electronic devices while driving.
-Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (reaching for a phone, dialing) increases the risk of getting into a crash by three times.
-Texting while driving increased your chances of a crash by up to 8 to 23 times!
-Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use
-Drivers talking on cell phone miss half of the information in their driving environment!
Click here for the FMCSA Rule on Wireless Devices