Distracted driving is dangerous and it claimed 3,477 lives in 2015. Additionally, 391,000 were injured in accidents involving distracted drivers. NHTSA leads the effort to save lives by preventing this dangerous behavior.

 

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system—anything that takes attention away from the task of safe driving.

 

Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. One cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention.

 

Consequences

 

During the day, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones while driving. Teens were the largest age group reported as distracted at the time of fatal crashes. 

 

NHTSA leads the fight against distracted driving by educating Americans and partnering with state and local police to enforce laws against distracted driving. The foundation of NHTSA’s efforts on distracted driving and other risky driving behaviors is its partnership with the state and local police. 

The law

Each state legislature and governor make the laws regarding distracted driving. Many states have laws against texting, talking on a cell phone and other distractions while driving.

Get Involved

Teens can be the best messengers by speaking up when they see a friend driving while distracted, having friends sign a pledge to never drive distracted, joining Students Against Destructive Decisions chapter and sharing messages on social media that remind their friends, family and neighbors not to drive distracted.

 

Parents must lead by example—by not driving distracted—as well as have a talk with their young driver about distraction and the responsibilities that come with driving. 

 

Distracted driving facts

 

• The number of lives lost on U.S. roads in 2016 showed an increase of 5.6 percent from 2015.
• 10 percent of fatal crashes and 15 percent of injury crashes in 2015 were distraction-affected. NHTSA.
• Distracted driving crashes are under-reported and the NSC estimates that cell phone use alone accounted for 27 percent  of 2015 car crashes. NSC
• In 2015, 3,477 people were killed and an estimated additional 391,000 injured in crashes involving distracted drivers. NHTSA
• The fatal crash rate for teens is three times greater than for drivers age 20+. (IIHS)
• Driver distraction is responsible for more than 58 percent of teen crashes.  AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

 

Three types of distractions

 

Traffic safety experts divide distractions into three categories: Manual, Visual and Cognitive. Texting involves all three types.

 

• Manual distractions are those where the driver moves his/her hands from the wheel.
• Visual distractions are those where the driver focuses his/her eyes away from the road.
• A cognitive distraction is when the driver’s mind wanders.

 

Source: www.NHTSA.gov