In 2015 reported crashes involving cellphones increased by 16%. In fact, cellphones contributed to 2,237 crashes in Missouri. That is 2,237 different times that drivers chose to split their attention between driving and another activity. Distracted driving crashes are 100% preventable.
According to safety experts there are three types of distractions.
Manual
These are the type of distractions where you move your hands away from the task of the controlling the vehicle. Eating, answering the phone, grabbing your atlas these type of activities physically you require to let go of the steering wheel to get something.
Visual
As you might guess these distractions take your focus away from the road. Looking to grab your drink or looking down to adjust the radio are a couple of examples.
Cognitive
When your mind wanders from the task of driving and you begin to daydream, you are experiencing a cognitive distraction. When you think of how many miles you have for the week and find yourself doing a mental budget of bills due and where you would want to go on vacation you aren’t focusing on the road, the cars or trucks around you or what looks like heavy rain ahead.
The dangers of using cell phones are the consequences arising from its use, typically all three types of distractions listed above. In a recent survey from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, over 90 percent of drivers recognized the danger from cell phone distractions, but 35 percent of those same people admitted to having read or sent an email or text message.
Driving is the event. Talk to your family and friends about distracted driving and what they should do to avoid it. Using the SMITH system, planning your trip thoroughly and making sure you have enough rest are a few ways to prevent distractions behind the wheel.
For more information, visit http://www.enddd.org.
