Pay Attention! Lessons from Distracted Driver Awareness Month

April is distracted driving awareness month for the National Safety Council, whose goal is to draw awareness to the epidemic of distracted driving. The theme of the campaign this year was “Take Back Your Drive.” The NSC aimed to publicize the message that there is no safe way to use a cell phone while driving – even if you are talking hands free. While distractions take many forms, mobile phone use is at the top of the distractions that cause crashes, because research has shown that the brain continues to be distracted for 27 seconds after using a mobile device. Part of the National Safety Council’s public awareness campaign about distracted driving included encouraging employers to develop a cell phone policy for employees.

The research into distracted driving

Distracted driving is fast becoming the most significant factor in causing auto accidents, according to a new research study funded by the U.S. Transportation Research Board and conducted by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. The study, which looked at more than 3500 drivers in cars equipped with video cameras and other sensors, revealed drivers managing all manner of distractions while driving including changing radio stations, interacting with their cell phones, and responding to passengers (among many others). The study’s researchers concluded that distracted driving behaviors occurred about 50 percent of the time for participants in the study, and that distracted driving doubled the risk of crashing.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 8 million people are killed and 1,161 are injured in crashes that involve a distracted driver. The CDC names three main types of distractions for drivers:

1. Visual: distractions that take your eyes off the road
2. Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
3. Cognitive: taking your mind off of the task of driving

Some of the most common distractions include activities such as:

• Talking or texting on a mobile phone
• Eating
• Grooming
• Fiddling with the radio or navigation system

Each of these distractions are dangerous enough, but cell phone use seems to be the most dangerous because it involves all three types of distractions.

Distracted driving is so easily prevented, but it takes each driver making the decision to put their cell phone out of reach when they are behind the wheel and to focus on the task of driving.

Have you been injured in a car crash caused by a distracted driver? If so, you may want to speak to an experienced Memphis auto accident attorney at the law offices of Bailey & Greer, PLLC. Please contact us to schedule a consultation at our Memphis or Jackson office to discuss your case.