Top Causes of Driver Distraction

Distracted driving is a major problem in the United States – and it’s only getting worse. In 2012, more than 400,000 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents involving a distracted driver – a 9 percent increase from 2011. Tragically, this includes more than 3,000 deaths. Distracted driving is defined as any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.

Here are 8 of the deadliest forms of distracted driving:

1)   Mobile Phones: The notorious common form of driver distraction, the statistics concerning texting and driving are mind-boggling. In 2011 (the most recent year in which information is available), 23 percent of auto collisions involved mobile phones. The numbers are likely even higher in 2014, as more and more people are glued to their phones. The dangers of texting and driving have been well documented, but here’s one stat that really stands out: Text messaging while driving makes a crash up to 23X more likely.

2)   Eating: Snacking at the wheel is one of the most dangerous types of distracted driving, and yet it hardly deters people from doing it. A recent study conducted by ExxonMobil found that over 70 percent of drivers eat while driving. When you eat, you’re focusing on food when you should be focusing on the road.

3)   Smoking: With many states passing laws that ban smoking in public, it’s becoming harder and harder for smokers to find places to light up. One of the few places people are still allowed to smoke is in the privacy of their car. Smoking while driving is extremely dangerous. From lighting a cigarette to “ashing” it, where do smokers find the time to focus on the road?

4)   Bumper Stickers: Everyone loves a good bumper sticker – until reading it causes a nasty fender bender. Believe it or not, some people admire bumper stickers so much that they take their eyes off the road so they can get a closer look. Needless to say, this is not a good idea. If you have a passenger in the car, have them read the bumper sticker for you, while you stay focused on the road.

5)   Pedestrians: The road can be a distracting place, especially if you’re in a city swarming with pedestrians. We’re all guilty at some of admiring an attractive person on the sidewalk when our eyes should be on the road. But that doesn’t make it OK. If you ever feel tempted to sneak a peak at a pedestrian, just ask yourself, “is it really worth it?”

6)   Fidgeting with Radio or Climate: Most cars now allow you to control the radio or temperature from your steering wheel. Auto companies promote this as “safe” technology that enables you to keep your eyes on the road. While this may be true, it hasn’t made the process of adjusting your radio or climate distraction free. It’s still best to save radio/temperature fidgeting for the next red light.

7)   Moving Objects: It happens all the time – drivers are so preoccupied with preventing objects from falling off their center console or passenger seat that they take their eyes off the road. From loose change to cell phones, some drivers are so intent on preventing an object from sliding away that they swerve right off the road to save it.

8)   Maps: While voice-activated GPS devices have made navigating the roads less distracting, they still cause their fair share of accidents. Even though the device blurts out instructions, some drivers are still drawn to the map, making sure they’re being led in the right direction or gauging their time of arrival. While it’s nice that bulky paper maps are a thing of the past, that doesn’t mean the roads are devoid of confused and distracted drivers.