Distracted Drivers
Eating, talking, texting, using a computer, drinking, putting on make-up, and fiddling with the radio are all activities many drivers engage in while driving. A recent article by the New York Times discusses an alleged federal coverup of data regarding the dangerousness of being distracted while driving. A few notable entries are:
“We’re looking at a problem that could be as bad as drunk driving, and the government has covered it up,” said Clarence Ditlow, director of the Center for Auto Safety.
The highway safety researchers estimated that cellphone use by drivers caused around 955 fatalities and 240,000 accidents over all in 2002.
[A shelved letter] said that hands-free headsets did not eliminate the serious accident risk. The reason: a cellphone conversation itself, not just holding the phone, takes drivers’ focus off the road, studies showed.
The research mirrors other studies about the dangers of multitasking behind the wheel. Research shows that motorists talking on a phone are four times as likely to crash as other drivers, and are as likely to cause an accident as someone with a .08 blood alcohol content.
The article discusses what many people have suspected or at least questioned for many years. The degree to which cell phone use, and other distractions, contribute to accidents is very important in a society where cell phones are prevalent. For more information regarding the government study click here to see the government documents. Also, go to this game to see how your own reaction time is affected by distractions.
[...] positive step forward in automotive safety. SaferAutomobiles has covered this topic before here and here. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of an 18-wheeler accident, big rig [...]