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Top Ten Driving Distractions

By Beth Janicek

I have been blogging lately on the correlation between car wrecks and cell phone use. Undeniably cell phones are the most common distraction for drivers.

In a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the top ten distractions while driving are:

1. 1. Using a wireless device, such as a cell phone;
2. 2. Talking to and interacting with passengers;
3. 3. Reaching for CDs, food, falling objects, or other internal distractions;
4. 4. Programming radio stations or tinkering with dashboard controls;
5. 5. Using an electric razor, applying makeup, or other personal hygiene-related actions;
6. 6. Unwrapping a burger, opening a can, or other movements when eating at the wheel;
7. 7. External distractions such as pointing out a funny billboard or pedestrian;
8. 8. Talking or singing to yourself;
9. 9. Smoking; and
10. 10. Daydreaming.

Inattention as a whole is the leading factor in most car wrecks. Whether that is from talking on your cell phone, fiddling with the radio, eating or just plain daydreaming. Everyone knows that if you are talking on your cell phone while driving you do not have 100% of your attention on the road.

I found an interesting website, listing the various countries and states that have banned cell phone use while driving. More interestingly I found out of 52 countries, cell phones were completely banned in 46 of those countries, 2 countries were being debated and 3 countries had variable or partial bans. In the same study in the United States, only 6 states had complete bans, 17 states had partial bans, 4 states were being debated and 24 states had no bans on cell phone use.

On September 1, 2008, in San Antonio, cell phone use and texting was banned in 18 various school zones. I personally think this is a great place to start but feel the United States needs to get on board with the other countries and complete a nationwide ban on cell phone use and texting while driving. If you have an opinion on this subject, I’d like to hear it.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Beth Janicek

Full post as published by San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer on January 17, 2009 (boomark / email).