Distracted Driving Risks
DWI and DUI risks get all the headlines, but distracted driving can be just as dangerous in many situations. For too many of us, driving can become secondary to other things we’re doing while driving, such as reading, fiddling with smartphones, eating, shaving, or putting on makeup. As much as we like to think we can do more than one thing at once without a problem, there are limits to how our brains work, and a second activity takes focus away from the first.
Distracted driving statistics gathered from various agencies underscore the risk, with driving while texting heading up the list.
Driving while texting (23x): Driving while texting can increase crash risk by up to 23 times. Texting typically involves one or more hands. You’ll also take your eyes off the road to text or read. Arguably your mind goes somewhere else as well, venturing into a rectangular emoji-filled world rather than the road ahead and the movements of other vehicles and pedestrians.
If you need to send an urgent text, find a safe place to park and send your text.
Reaching (9x): We’ve all dropped something while driving, watching it bounce behind the seat, under the seat, or fall in between the seat and center console. Reaching for dropped items or something you left in the back seat can be more distracting than many might realize, increasing the risk of an accident by nine times.
If you’ve dropped something or need to reach for an item in the back of the vehicle, find a safe place to park first. The risk isn’t worth the reach.
Reading (4x): We expected a higher number here, thinking back to drivers we’ve seen reading a precariously held newspaper while driving. But reading can also involve maps, books, or even ebooks.
Use a voice-activated navigation app if you need a helping hand reaching your destination. And in the interest of safety, save other reading until you put the vehicle in park. As a bonus, your reading comprehension will be better as well.
Grooming (3x): We’ve all seen people craning their necks to shave while driving. Putting on mascara or lipstick at the wheel is another sight we’ve all witnessed. Grooming while driving can triple your risk of an accident by shifting focus and shifting our eyes away from the roadway.
Give yourself a few extra minutes to get ready before heading out. This step is almost certain to help you feel more prepared for the day ahead as well.
Eating (2x): Whether it’s a healthy snack or a messy meatball sandwich, eating while driving can double your risk of a driving mishap. There’s also a non-zero risk of dropping a meatball on your work clothes. Accidents happen, but the moving vehicle kind of accident can have long-lasting consequences.
Eat before or after you head out on the road. If you need to eat on the go, find a safe place to park or even take a short mental break by enjoying some sunshine and eating at a park or picnic table. The quick recharge can also help reduce driving fatigue. Double win.