Distraction While Driving

Playing a video game, listening to a stereo, watching television, using the Internet, reading a book, all sound like clues for playing that game show with the little pyramids on it, right?  Maybe so, as they are all things that be done for enjoyment or to pass time. When done in your home they are generally harmless, unless they are diverting attention from more important things, such as completing necessary daily activities, or causing someone to ignore responsibilities.  A person can express their agreement to these activities, as in the case of a parent telling a child it is fine to play a game before dinner, or a person can imply agreement by joining you in front of the TV.

         A person engaged in those activities can be distracted by events such as a telephone ringing, a knock at the door, any event that breaks their concentration. This is not a problem as a game can be paused, or a bookmark inserted so they don’t lose their place. Even if one forgets to pause, a video game can be reset, and all that is really lost is a bit of time.

         For the next category; talking on the phone, adjusting the radio, reading the paper, personal grooming, texting; all things that can be done in a car. Not a problem if the car is stationary such as in a driveway or parking lot, but have the potential to become big problems if the car is in motion, as they are all distractions. They constitute things that can cause a person to ignore the responsibilty of properly operating a motor vehicle. Other drivers are not able to express or imply agreement to these activities, and furthermore why would they? Who is going to willingly agree to share the road with someone who is not completely focused on the important task at hand?

          Some drivers are convinced that they are quite capable of driving while part of their attention is diverted, but that’s simply not the case. According to this publication by the National Safety Council, “drivers using cell phones look, but fail to see almost 50% of the information in their driving environment”. Half of the information presented to a driver can fail to be processed properly. That’s a pretty big piece of the pie! If two children are crossing the street from different directions, 50% means one of them could be missed. At a four-way intersection, 50% means two directions are not monitored properly. There are no “do-overs” with regard to accidents, there is no pause to stop the action before an incident occurs, and humans don’t come with reset buttons. Once a person is injured or dead, you can’t simply press a button and undo the damage.

         All drivers have a responsibility to themselves and other drivers to pay complete attention to what they are doing. With few exceptions, such as road imperfections that cause a loss of control, most accidents can be attributed to human error. Failure to yield, failure to stop, failure to maintain proper speed or control of the vehicle are all examples of operator error. Even mechanical failures can often be contributed to a person’s failure to properly maintain their vehicle.

            Many states already have laws against using cell phones wile driving, and others are in the process of passing such laws. But just because something is not illegal does not necessarily imply that it’s ok to do. There’s no law against changing a wall switch in your home with the power on, but it’s not a good idea. There are already enough distractions on the road, so it doesn’t make sense to add to them by willfully participating in activities known to create more distraction.