What is Distracting Drivers on the Road?

When you hear the term “distracted driver”, what do you think about?  A self-involved teenager chatting or texting on his cell phone?  A harried executive tapping frantically into her Blackberry?  Or a carefree young man looking for a song on his MP3 player while eating a Big Mac?  Or have you accepted that you are one of those drivers, one of those people who doesn’t always have their eye on the road.

The unfortunate fact is that distracted drivers cause traffic accidents.  In fact, some studies have compared the effects of distractions like chatting on a cell phone while behind the wheel to driving while intoxicated – both can be equally debilitating to the skills needed to safely drive a car.  However, studies have found that – to paraphrase Jean Paul Satre – “distraction, it is other people.”

What Studies Say is Distracting Drivers

The results from several studies about distracted driving are illuminating, and highlight some distractions that are common to all drivers.  First, consider an older study conducted between 1995 and 1999:

• 70% of the reported distractions were inside the vehicle, with the remaining 30% occurring outside the vehicle
• Passengers and audio devices were the most prevalent reported distractions
• Objects, persons, or events happening outside of the car were the most distracting (23.7%)
• Other vehicle occupants were the next source of distraction (20.8%)
• Following the above distractions were reaching for an object (5.2%), a moving object inside the vehicle (3.7%), cell phone (3.6%), adjusting the music system (2.9%), eating/drinking (2.8%), adjusting climate control (1.5%), and smoking (1%).

A study by the Highway Safety Research Center at the University of North Carolina in 2001 attempted to observe drivers and determine the types of activities they attempt while driving and their potential consequences.  Their findings reveal that:

• Drivers spent approximately 15.3 percent of the time the vehicles were moving engaged in conversation with passengers
• Drivers engaged in some other activity 14.5 percent of the total driving time, including preparing to eat, eating or spilling (4.6%); reaching for something or leaning, plus other internal distractions (3.8%); cell phone use (including dialing, answering, and talking) (1.3%); manipulating audio controls (1.4%); and smoking (1.6%)

Finally, a more recent study in 2005 was conducted by observing video clips of drivers during routine driving.  These researchers found that:

• 34 percent of the time drivers were involved in a secondary task
• Most common distraction was conversation with another passenger, which occurred in 15 percent of the samples, followed by grooming (6.5%), use of a hand-held cellular phone (5.3%), and eating or drinking (1.9%)
• The occurrence of secondary-task engagement decreased with driver age
• Younger drivers (mean age 25) were more than twice as likely to involve secondary activities as were those of older drivers (mean age 64).

These studies make clear that one of the main sources of distraction is other people.  While there is a great deal of focus on cell phone use in cars and other “object” distractions, perhaps one of the ways drivers can stay safe is to make sure that they are focused at all times on the task at hand – safety driving their car – and not entertaining other vehicle occupants. 

Unfortunately, sometimes even the safest drivers are involved in auto accidents through no fault of their own.  If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a car or truck accident, then our experienced attorneys can help you secure the compensation you deserve for your suffering.  Please contact Vujasinovic & Beckcom today and find out how we can help you secure the compensation you and your family deserve.

Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C
1001 Texas Avenue, Suite 1020
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713.224.7800
Fax: 713.224.7801

Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C
1001 Texas Avenue, Suite 1020
Houston, TX 77002

Phone: 713.224.7800
Fax: 713.224.7801