Wellness
End Distracted Driving
What is it exactly, and how many of us do it? By Michael Yawney, BA (Crim), LLB, LLM
D
riving while distracted has become a major, if not the major, traffic safety issue in North America. In some jurisdictions distracted driving has eclipsed drunk driving as a leading cause of accident and injury. Today’s headlines are filled with descriptions of tragic accidents involving drivers who weren’t paying enough attention and caused an accident. Many jurisdictions around the world have banned the use while driving of electronic devices like cell phones because of the cost of distracted driving. British Columbia, along with other North American jurisdictions, has regulated the use of cell phones, but not completely banned their use while driving. More needs to happen, as this problem runs across generations in our society. Simply ask yourself: have you ever glanced at your phone or sent a text while driving, and for parents in particular, have you done so while
your children are in the vehicle? Cell phone use has had the most blame for this traffic safety issue. However, while the use of cell phones is one of the major contributors to distracted driving, it is not the only one. So what is distracted driving? The most comprehensive definition of distracted driving comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a division of the US Transportation Department, which defines distracted driving as “Any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.” All distractions while driving have the potential to endanger driver, passenger and bystander safety. Following are some examples of typical distractions: • Texting • Using a cell phone or smart phone • Eating and drinking
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Talking to passengers Grooming Reading, including maps Using a navigation system Watching a video Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player Traffic safety experts classify distractions into three main types: manual, visual and cognitive. Manual distractions are those in which you move your hands away from the task of controlling the vehicle. Reaching for a soda in a drink carrier is an example of a manual distraction. Visual distractions are those where you focus your eyes away from the road. Your drop your soda and, when it spills all over the floor of the car, you look down at your ruined shoes and stained slacks; that’s a visual distraction. A cognitive distraction is when your mind wanders away from the task of driving. For example, you start to consider whether you can afford to replace the
8 Summer ‘14 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine
www.ohwmagazine.com