What Distracts You When Driving?

I remember when I first got my driver’s license, my dad would say “Kelli, don’t listen to the radio when driving, it can kill you“. Like most teenagers, I listened first but as I became more comfortable with driving I no longer took his advice. Not only did I learn to drive and change the radio stations, but I also learned to drive, change the radio stations, and eat. Talented, huh? As I grew older and started having kids, I learned how to drive, change the radio stations, eat, reach in the diaper bag for a bottle, hold the bottle for the baby, and steer with my knee.

Then came the second child, so I learned how to drive, change the radio stations, eat, reach for a bottle, hold the bottle for the baby, pick up the dropped juicy cup rolling around on the floor in the backseat for the now toddler, and steer with my knee. This was all before the need to have a cell phone in hand every minute of the day. I’m sure many moms can relate, however it doesn’t excuse the fact that I was distracted and potentially a danger on the road.

Distractions.gov explains distracted driving as “any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. These types of distractions include:

• Texting
• Using a cell phone or smartphone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction.”

According to textinganddriving.com, 1 and 5 drivers confess to surfing the Internet while driving. Texting while driving is a growing trend, and a national epidemic, quickly becoming one of the country’s top killers. Drivers assume they can handle texting while driving and remain safe, but the numbers don’t lie.

Texting While Driving Causes:

1. 1,600,000 accidents per year – National Safety Council
2. 330,000 injuries per year – Harvard Center for Risk Analysis Study
3. 11 teen deaths EVERY DAY – Ins. Institute for Hwy Safety Fatality Facts
4. Nearly 25% of ALL car accidents

Texting While Driving Is:

1. About 6 times more likely to cause an accident than driving intoxicated
2. The same as driving after 4 beers – National Hwy Transportation Safety Admin.
3. The number one driving distraction reported by teen drivers

Texting While Driving:

1. Makes you 23X more likely to crash – National Hwy Transportation Safety Admin.
2. Is the same as driving blind for 5 seconds at a time – VA. Tech Transportation Institute
3. Takes place by 800,000 drivers at any given time across the country
4. Slows your brake reaction speed by 18% – HumanFactors & Ergonomics Society
5. Leads to a 400% increase with eyes off the road
(testingandriving.com)

The statistics are scary. Everyday people are dying and families being ruined because someone was distracted while driving. Are you that someone? Are you often distracted while driving? I can honestly say that I am at times, however after learning the numbers and the permanent negative impact my ignorance can make on a family, I will intentionally be less distracted and more aware while driving. What about you? Will you be more responsible and less distracted? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please comment below.

That’s all for now, so until next time wear your heels well and BE SAFE!

Blessings,