Stay safe on the road by learning about distracted driving and how to avoid it
Every day in the U.S., 9 people are killed and more than 1,060 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.
The cause for concern is obvious. Transportation related occupational fatalities are the number one cause of death in the American workforce.
Distracted driving is dangerous, yet increasingly common. According to the federal government, at any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010. Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by three times.
This phenomenon is called distracted driving. Distracted driving means driving while also engaging in an activity that takes the eyes off the road, the hands off the wheel, and the mind off the primary task: driving safely.
The purpose of this lesson is to heighten drivers’ awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and identify ways to stay safe when sharing the road with distracted drivers.