Distracted Driving Family Plan
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines distraction as anything that takes your attention away from the task of driving: talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle and adjusting controls are all examples. Socially, we accept these as “normal” activities when we’re in the comfort of our living room, but what about while we drive?1” Carl Marci - Former Chief Neuroscientist at Nielsen Consumer Neuroscience
The Food Dilemma
Food, technology, and emotional wellbeing are all contributors to distracted driving. According to the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine 400,000 people are injured and an additional 3,300 are killed annually by distracted driving. Hunger causes a lot of drivers to suddenly shift their plans and frequent fast food drive-thrus like McDonalds which serves a whopping twenty five million customers daily with over 14,000 locations in the United States alone2. Marketing along our highways prompts many drivers to consider incorporating a food stop in their regular commutes. Some examples of food marketing on roadways include billboards, strategically placed signage, and radio advertisements. The convenience and its ease of access makes fast food a staple in the lives of many individuals who often have busy schedules. Technology and globalization has put the world within arm’s reach. More people are leveraging en-route eating to manage juggling professional lives, extracurricular activities, family plans and more. Regardless of its origin, food consumption while driving could result in your reduced attention to the road. According to the Law offices of George T. Bochanis,
“Manual distractions, or activities that take one or both of motorists’ hands off the wheel, may cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles. Some of the most common manual distractions today’s motorists face include:
Eating or drinking
Changing the radio station
Using the in-vehicle infotainment system
Personal grooming
Without both hands on the steering wheel, motorists may lack the necessary command of their cars to maneuver them safely on the road.3” https://lvaccident.com/driving-distracted-dangers/
Drivers need to make an important commitment to designate time for food consumption. Eating while driving is often overlooked as a distraction and at a surface level seems harmless. Many states have laws that ban the usage of hand held devices while driving, but food consumption has proven to have severe impairment consequences during motor vehicle operation too. Education starts at home. Set a good example for future drivers by making time outside of your motor vehicle to handle tasks that would lead to manual distractions while driving.
Good food practices:
Make time for meals and snacks before taking a trip
Consume your morning beverage in-home or once you arrive at your planned destination
Adopt a practice where no one dines in the car, but everyone eats once the commute is over
Encourage everyone to stay properly hydrated and to consume high-energy snacks before a long trip
Create snack pit stops in parks or rest areas to consume food and beverages
Ensure your family and friends are aware of the dangers of food consumption while driving
The Internet of Things
Technology is a major cause of distracted driving. Phone usage, digital dashboards, and a series of new technology gadgets due to IoT (Internet of things) have more people focused on computing than commuting. Driving requires all of the senses to focus, detect danger, and strategize for traffic shifts. Now drivers are being distracted by smart watches, young children who may need assistance with digital devices, texting, social media, and more. There was a time when driving was the primary task during commuting for drivers. If an individual takes their eyes off the road while driving at a speed of 55 miles per hour for five seconds they will travel the length of an entire football field!
Stop for a moment and think about juggling. It’s no easy task. Standing one place and trying to juggle two to three objects takes strategy and practice. Now, consider juggling and walking at the same time. Does this seem like an easy feat? According to Autolist.com the average weight of a car is 4,000 pounds. Insert yourself, and your family into a car. Does it seem like a good idea to juggle multiple tasks while moving in a vehicle at any given speed? From interstate 95 to your local residential neighborhood operating a digital device of any kind is not recommended while driving. Kansas University Researcher, Paul Atchley, has been conducting research around cognitive factors related to driving for over 25 years. In this TEDx Talk listen to his research on the impact of distracted driving and accidents.
Practice healthy commuting with your family:
Many phones are equipped with a driving mode that automatically responds to incoming messages with an automated response to their inquiry that advises you will respond when safe to do so
If you must use a digital device (phone, GPS, smart watch) pull over to a safe area before doing so
Car rides are a great time to hold conversations with family and sightsee. Consider having everyone unplug during commutes to live in the moment
New technology is great to have but choose to be a smart driver and focus your attention on the road
Even digital tools like radio and bluetooth require a shift in your attention. If you must operate digital devices consider using the voice command features
Emotions Can Cause Distractions While Driving
The invisible inhibitor. How are you feeling? Stress, anger, excitement, despair, fatigue, and more can cause distracted driving. Certainly, during road rage a driver is feeling intense emotions of anger and hostility. That state can lead to aggressive and reckless driving. On the contrary feelings of despair and fatigue can detach one from reality and alter their reaction times. Have you ever been in a situation where something really upset you, and your thoughts seem to detach from your surroundings? Understanding how you're feeling before choosing to operate a motor vehicle can be fundamental in avoiding an unforeseen accident. If you realize that your mental state has been influenced by an emotional event it is in your best interest to pause, and take a moment for yourself to collect your thoughts. If possible you may want to take a walk, call a friend or have a nap before operating a motor vehicle. Fatigue has been shown to be as bad as drunk and impaired driving. Reaction times are slowed, and your inability to focus could lead to loss of control.
If you must drive in an altered emotional state consider having the radio on to an interesting station. Ensure you are well hydrated before you take the trip. Before driving you may want to contact someone for emotional support to talk through your feelings and help your state of wellbeing. If you are exhausted taking a nap in a safe quiet area can help you obtain well needed rest. There are even healthy foods and beverages you can consume before your trip to gain an energy boost. One must really appreciate the engineering behind motor vehicles, and the science of the human body. Mobility was enhanced by technology. Regardless of if you are flying a plane, operating a train, driving a semi-truck, or driving an everyday automobile safety should be your number one priority. From a humanity perspective life is priceless, and negatively impacting it by distracted driving is not a chapter that anyone needs to experience.
In summary, food, technology, and emotions are all contributing factors to distracted driving. They are manageable with time and planning. Each generation needs to work to teach new drivers the best way to commute safely. There are many laws around distracted driving and you can learn more about the laws for your specific state by clicking here on the Governor's Highway Safety Association website. We take many steps to protect ourselves and families from danger. We should remember to do the same while operating a motor vehicle. Many types of road users can be impacted by distracted driving including bicyclists, construction workers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
“You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing. Educators and employers can play a part, too. Spread the word at your school or workplace about the dangers of distracted driving. Ask your students to commit to distraction-free driving or set a company policy on distracted driving.4”
Everyone has the power to choose not to drive distracted. You can turn off digital devices, and choose to only focus on the road every time you operate a motor vehicle. Technology is making many advancements supporting driverless commutes, assisting disabled drivers with commuting, and aids in more efficient navigation. When used properly it can add value in the commuting industry. Choosing not to drive distracted is a life saving decision that should be practiced by all drivers daily.
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| Paul Atchley's distracted driving research: |
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