Distracted driving
Encyclopedia
Distracted driving, a replacement phrase for the more popular terms "texting while driving
" and "talking while driving," is what occurs when a driver has something other than driving
on his mind. Driving becomes subsequent in importance to another activity that is happening inside the car, truck or cycle while the vehicle
is in motion.
According to Peter H. Appel
administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(RITA) and the Obama administration's point person on transportation technologies, distracted driving has grown exponentially as a problem tied to rapidly evolving technology developments. Technologies as a source of driver distraction according to RITA include: cell phones, PDAs, mp3 players, video players, guidance systems, driver/operator information systems, and devices that allow texting, e-mailing and other communications. RITA is also looking to new technologies which can enhance transportation safety and reduce distracted driving via a program called the Connected Vehicle Technology Challenge.
New York Times writer Matt Richtel
won a Pulitzer Prize
in 2010 for a series on distracted driving.
A poll conducted in October 2010 found that 93 percent of American drivers engage in distracted driving, such as texting behind the wheel, eating behind the wheel or even kissing behind the wheel.
Distracted driving has increasingly captured the public's attention as a serious cause of auto accidents across the US thanks to increased media exposure such as a two hour special episode of ABC television's Extreme Home Makeover. It is now widely agreed that distracted driving is more dangerous than drunk driving. While texting while driving is often cited a a primary cause of distracted driving accidents, distracted driving is not limited just to using a cellphone while simultaneously operating a motor vehicle. It can also involve situations where a driver might be distracted by children or pets in the car, or by other in-car devices such as a music player or satellite navigation equipment.
Distracted driving laws vary from state to state in the U.S.
In September of 2010, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) released a report on distracted driving fatalities for 2009. The NHTSA considers distracted driving to include some of the following as distractions: other occupants in the car, eating, drinking, smoking, adjusting radio, adjusting environmental control, reaching for object in car, and cell phone use. In 2009 in the U.S. there was a reported 5,474 people killed by distracted drivers. Of those 995 were considered to be killed by drivers distracted by cell phones. The report doesn't state whether this under or over represents the level of cell phone use amongst drivers, and whether there is a causal relationship.
A 2003 study of U.S. crash data states that driver inattention is estimated to be a factor in between 20 to 50 percent of all police-reported crashes. Driver distraction, a sub-category of inattention, has been estimated to be a contributing factor in 8 to 13 percent of all crashes. Of distraction-related accidents, cell phone use may range from 1.5 to 5 percent of contributing factors. However, large percentages of unknowns in each of those categories may cause inaccuracies in these estimations. A 2001 study sponsored by The American Automobile Association
recorded "Unknown Driver Attention Status" for 41.5 percent of crashes, and "Unknown Distraction" in 8.6 percent of all distraction related accidents. According to NHTSA, "There is clearly inadequate reporting of crashes".
Currently, "Outside person, object, event" (commonly known as rubbernecking
) is the most reported cause of distraction-related accidents, followed by "Adjusting radio/cassette/CD". "Using/dialing cell phone" is eighth.
Texting while driving
Texting while driving is the act of composing, sending, reading text messages, email, or making other similar use of the web on a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle. The practice has been viewed by many people and authorities as dangerous. It has also been ruled as the cause of some motor...
" and "talking while driving," is what occurs when a driver has something other than driving
Driving
Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus.Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding, such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road...
on his mind. Driving becomes subsequent in importance to another activity that is happening inside the car, truck or cycle while the vehicle
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
is in motion.
According to Peter H. Appel
Peter H. Appel
Peter H. Appel was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration on April 29, 2009. From 2009-2011 Appel was the Obama Administration point person on transportation technology issues and research...
administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
The Research and Innovative Technology Administration is a unit of the United States Department of Transportation . It was created in 2005 to advance transportation science, technology, and analysis, and to improve the coordination of transportation research within the Department and throughout...
(RITA) and the Obama administration's point person on transportation technologies, distracted driving has grown exponentially as a problem tied to rapidly evolving technology developments. Technologies as a source of driver distraction according to RITA include: cell phones, PDAs, mp3 players, video players, guidance systems, driver/operator information systems, and devices that allow texting, e-mailing and other communications. RITA is also looking to new technologies which can enhance transportation safety and reduce distracted driving via a program called the Connected Vehicle Technology Challenge.
New York Times writer Matt Richtel
Matt Richtel
Matt Richtel is an American writer and journalist for The New York Times. He was awarded the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for a series on distracted driving....
won a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in 2010 for a series on distracted driving.
A poll conducted in October 2010 found that 93 percent of American drivers engage in distracted driving, such as texting behind the wheel, eating behind the wheel or even kissing behind the wheel.
Distracted driving has increasingly captured the public's attention as a serious cause of auto accidents across the US thanks to increased media exposure such as a two hour special episode of ABC television's Extreme Home Makeover. It is now widely agreed that distracted driving is more dangerous than drunk driving. While texting while driving is often cited a a primary cause of distracted driving accidents, distracted driving is not limited just to using a cellphone while simultaneously operating a motor vehicle. It can also involve situations where a driver might be distracted by children or pets in the car, or by other in-car devices such as a music player or satellite navigation equipment.
Distracted driving laws vary from state to state in the U.S.
In September of 2010, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
(NHTSA) released a report on distracted driving fatalities for 2009. The NHTSA considers distracted driving to include some of the following as distractions: other occupants in the car, eating, drinking, smoking, adjusting radio, adjusting environmental control, reaching for object in car, and cell phone use. In 2009 in the U.S. there was a reported 5,474 people killed by distracted drivers. Of those 995 were considered to be killed by drivers distracted by cell phones. The report doesn't state whether this under or over represents the level of cell phone use amongst drivers, and whether there is a causal relationship.
A 2003 study of U.S. crash data states that driver inattention is estimated to be a factor in between 20 to 50 percent of all police-reported crashes. Driver distraction, a sub-category of inattention, has been estimated to be a contributing factor in 8 to 13 percent of all crashes. Of distraction-related accidents, cell phone use may range from 1.5 to 5 percent of contributing factors. However, large percentages of unknowns in each of those categories may cause inaccuracies in these estimations. A 2001 study sponsored by The American Automobile Association
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
recorded "Unknown Driver Attention Status" for 41.5 percent of crashes, and "Unknown Distraction" in 8.6 percent of all distraction related accidents. According to NHTSA, "There is clearly inadequate reporting of crashes".
Currently, "Outside person, object, event" (commonly known as rubbernecking
Rubbernecking
Rubbernecking describes the act of gawking at something of interest. It is often used to refer to drivers trying to view the carnage resulting from a traffic accident. The term refers to the craning of a person's neck in order to get a better view....
) is the most reported cause of distraction-related accidents, followed by "Adjusting radio/cassette/CD". "Using/dialing cell phone" is eighth.
See also
- Automotive navigation systemAutomotive navigation systemAn automotive navigation system is a satellite navigation system designed for use in automobiles. It typically uses a GPS navigation device to acquire position data to locate the user on a road in the unit's map database. Using the road database, the unit can give directions to other locations...
- RubberneckingRubberneckingRubbernecking describes the act of gawking at something of interest. It is often used to refer to drivers trying to view the carnage resulting from a traffic accident. The term refers to the craning of a person's neck in order to get a better view....
- Mobile phones and driving safetyMobile phones and driving safetyMobile phone use while driving is common, but dangerous. Due to the number of accidents that are related to cell phone use while driving, some jurisdictions have made the use of a cell phone while driving illegal. Others have enacted laws to ban handheld mobile phone use, but allow use of a...
External links
- distraction.gov Official US Government website for distracted driving