• In Wright County, driver inattention or distraction is the number one contributing factor in multiple-vehicle crashes and number two contributing factor in single-vehicle crashes.
• Driver inattention or distraction is the most commonly cited contributing factor in older driver crashes.
• While behind the wheel a motorist must be aware of 184 separate/simultaneous things.
• Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event.
• Drivers who engage frequently in distracting activities are more likely to be involved in an inattention-related crash or near-crash.
• Drivers are often unable to predict when it is safe to look away from the road to multi-task because the situation can change abruptly leaving the driver no time to react even when looking away from the forward roadway for only a brief time.
• Primary causes of driver inattention are distracting activities, such as cell phone use, other passengers and drowsiness.
• Using a cell phone while driving increases the possibilities of getting into a crash by 400 percent. That doubles at night.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that driver distraction is a factor in 25% of crashes.
• Distracted Parents -Survey Results, March 2021. National Safety Council and Cumberland Valley Firemen’s Association/Emergency Responder Safety Institute. The survey revealed that nearly all parents will alter their behaviors to reduce distracted driving when children are present in the car. Specifically a 44% decrease in manipulating GPS devices; 34% decrease in using digital music devices or apps; 21% decrease in glancing at or reading notifications. Parents reported that the largest deterrents to phone use while driving included having child(ren) tell them they felt scared when parents used phone while driving.

MYTH VS. REALITY

Myth #1 – Drivers can Multitask

REALITY: The human brain CANNNOT do two things at the same time – like watch TV and hold a phone conversation. The same is true when driving and talking on the phone. The brain switches between the two tasks with slows reaction time. It’s called “toggling”.

Myth #2 – Talking on a cell phone is just like speaking to a passenger.

REALITY – Back seat drivers are good for you Adult passengers help the driver and alert drivers to traffic problems. People on the other end of the phone can’t see what’s going on!

Myth #3 – Hands-free devices are safe.

REALITY – Drivers talking on cell phones, even hands-free, can miss seeing up to 50% of their driving environments, including pedestrians and red lights.

Myth #4 – I only use my phone at stoplights so it’s ok.

REALITY – Even at stoplights, it is important to remain an attentive driver. For example, a recent AAA study shows that people are distracted up to 27 seconds after they finish sending a voice text.

Myth #5 – Voice-to-text is safe while driving.

REALITY – It’s actually still very distracting. You’re not only mentally distracted, but your visually distracted due to the common autocorrect errors.