Distracted Driving 2011

1. DistractedDriving2011 Naval Safety Center

2. What’s the problem? • Every single time someone takes their focus off the road – even if just for a moment – they put their lives and the lives of others in danger. • Distracted driving is unsafe, irresponsible, and, in a split-second, its consequences can be devastating. • There’s no call or email so important that it can’t wait.

3. Typical bad news

4. Data • 2009: Nearly 5,500 killed in distracted-driving crashes, and 450,000 injured. • Percentage of distracted drivers in fatal crashes was 11% in 2009, up from 7% in 2005. • This data is the tip of the iceberg.

5. Data, cont. • 995 fatalities involved a cell phone as a distraction. • 24,000 injuries involved a cell phone as a distraction. • Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get in injury-producing crashes.

6. What is distracted driving? • Visual — taking your eyes off the road • Manual — taking your hands of the wheel • Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing

7. For example • Using a cell phone • Eating and drinking • Talking to passengers • Grooming • Reading, including maps • Changing the radio station, CD, or Mp3 player • Using a PDA or navigation system • Watching a video

8. Younger drivers most at risk • Under-20 age group: greatest proportion of distracted drivers. • 16 percent of these young drivers involved in fatal crashes were distracted. • Lack of driving experience = critical misjudgments when distracted.

9. But they aren’t alone • Every day, more than 800,000 vehicles are being driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone. • You need to watch out for them—they aren’t watching out for you!

10. The key message • Stop multi-tasking while driving. • Just “Put It Down” and concentrate on the road. • Be a good example for your peers and your children. • When you’re a passenger, make the driver pay attention.

11. Is “hands-free” OK? • Research shows that both hands-free and hand-held devices are distracting enough to degrade a driver’s performance. • Driver is more likely to miss key visual and audio cues needed to avoid a crash.

12. Publicizing the issue • NFL preseason, ESPN tour-bus slogan: “Stop Distracted Driving.” 15,000 miles of exposure. • Jonas Brothers and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks -- Allstate Insurance’s “X the TXT” campaign. • Oprah Winfrey entire show of victims’ stories, promotion of “National No Phone Zone Day.”

13. State and local laws • In 2009, legislatures in 43 states considered more than 270 distracted driving bills. • 30 states have banned texting while driving • 8 states have banned handheld use behind the wheel. • By Presidential mandate, all 4 million federal employees are prohibited from texting while driving.

14. Tools and resources • http://www.distraction.gov/ • News, PSAs, “Faces of Distracted Driving” stories

15. Tools and resources, cont. • http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Distracted_Driving/Pages/distracted_driving.aspx • Research, posters, studies

16. National Safety Council posters

17. 10 Tips for managing distractions • Turn off your phone or switch to silent mode when you get in the car. • Spread the word. Set up a special message to tell callers that you’re driving. • Pull over if you need to make a call. • Use your passengers. Ask a passenger to make the call for you. • X the Text. Don’t text, surf the web or read your email while driving.

18. 10 Tips, cont. • Know the law for your state and city. • Prepare. Review maps and directions before you start to drive. • Secure your pets before you start to drive. • Keep the kids safe. Pull over to a safe location if they’re distracting you. • Focus on the task at hand. Avoid anything that takes your mind and eyes off the road.