Driving is a very demanding task, yet almost all drivers try to do other things while behind the wheel. Ever tried to switch a CD, work on your PDA (personal digital assistant), or find a radio station while driving? Ever spilled coffee in the car? Ever been so caught up in a conversation that you missed your turn - or worse, went through a red light? What about reading the paper, or grooming in the rear view mirror? These activities all cause you to stop paying attention to the road.

 Distracted drivers fail more often to notice or recognize potential hazards, including pedestrians, bicycles or hazards on the road. When you’re focused on something other than driving, you react more slowly to traffic conditions or events. As a result, you are more likely to take risks without even knowing it.

Nearly 8 out of 10 crashes involve some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the collision. This is not surprising when you consider that a city driver has to keep track of an estimated 3000 items (e.g., pedestrians, traffic lights, road conditions, etc.) during rush hour. Add to this the distractions you create yourself, like changing a CD or using a cell phone, and it is clear how large an issue distracted driving has become. Reducing many of these distractions is within your control. This means that a large number of collisions are easily preventable by staying focused and driving safe.

For many, driving has become second nature leading us to feel more and more confident behind the wheel. The danger in this is that too many of us take driving for granted. Drivers who do not focus on their driving skills can easily fall into some careless driving habits and outdated practices. This is particularly true when one’s driving ability has deteriorated due to age-related changes, medical conditions, or illness. It may then become necessary to “hang up the keys” because of the increased risk to personal or public safety.

Read on to help you become more aware of safe driving practices and what you can do to help prevent traffic collisions.

Remember, safe driving demands 100% attention, 100% of the time.

WHY ARE DRIVER DISTRACTION AND INATTENTION A CONCERN?

During the past ten years, the number of traffic collisions and resulting casualties in Canada has decreased according to Transport Canada’s most recent report released in 2005. However, the numbers remain too high, with 2,730 people killed and 212,347 injured in road crashes in 2004. These are preventable injuries and deaths.

Driver distraction and driver inattention are contributing factors in almost 80% of car crashes and near crashes, as reported in a recent U.S. study that recorded and analyzed almost 43,000 hours of driving data. The leading cause of crashes and near-crashes was identified as reaching for a moving object while driving. Doing so makes the risk of a collision nine times more likely.

Other causes included looking at an object outside the car, reading, or applying makeup. Dialing a hand-held device, like a cell phone, almost triples the risk. Many people perceive that cell phone usage is the most dangerous distraction. This is particularly important given that the use of cell phones and other electronic or “telematic” devices located inside automobiles is still on the rise. These devices will likely continue to play a role in increasing the risk of car crashes and near-crashes. However, all driver distractions are important.

Even if you are not a distracted or inattentive driver, there are many drivers around you who are, so you should take extra precaution to drive defensively. Alternatively, you may be a passenger in a vehicle where there is a driver with many distractions. If this happens, you should remind the driver to pay attention to the road so that everyone arrives safely.

HOW CAN I MAKE OUR ROADS SAFER?

You can do your part to reduce the number of car crashes. To do this, you must first recognize what your own distractions are and how they affect your driving. Accepting responsibility for your driving habits and then working on reducing distractions are the next steps to making roads safer for everyone.

Types of Distractions

There are many different types of distractions, both inside and outside the car. A physical distraction causes you to take your hands off the wheel, such as eating a sandwich. A mental distraction takes your mind away from the road, such as speaking with a passenger. Mental distractions may be more difficult to identify, as we often take discussions with passengers to be a “normal” part of driving.

However, 11% of all inattention-related crashes were from distractions caused by passengers (including children). Other activities may require you to take your hands, eyes and mind off the road, such as reading a map, or programming a radio or electronic device.

It's only for a second or two…
We may think that these activities don’t affect us. But that split second it takes to change a CD or sip your coffee is just long enough to miss a car pulling out from a side road, or see the traffic light change. Think about this: at 50 km/hr, you will travel 14 metres (46 ft) in one second. At 100km/hr you will travel 28 meters (92 ft) in one second. This is more than enough distance to hit an unexpected obstacle or collide with another vehicle.

A lot can happen when a driver is distracted. For example, there is a significant increase in:
• driving with no hands on the wheel
• not watching the road
• sudden braking
• wandering into other lanes of traffic.

What about cell phones?

The fact is that using a cell phone is one of many distractions a driver faces. Using a cell phone causes both physical (pressing buttons, holding phone) and mental (speaking and listening) distractions. Because of the significant distraction they cause, lawmakers around the world and within Canada are beginning to address this issue by banning cell phone use while driving or only permitting the use of hands-free devices.

WHAT SKILLS DOES A DRIVER USE ON A REGULAR BASIS?

A driver must use many skills to drive safely, often all at the same time.

A driver must watch the road in front and around, use mirrors, make shoulder checks, and check gauges and the speedometer. These are visual skills.

Being able to hear the squealing of brakes, sirens of an emergency vehicle, and vehicle sounds are a few of the listening skills required.

Turning the steering wheel, pressing the accelerator, brakes, clutch, and activating signals and headlights are all considered skills that require hand-eye coordination and physical movement.

The ability to anticipate any future movement, assess weather conditions and movement of vehicles, and prepare to avoid hazards are thinking skills.

While it is not known how many distractions can be successfully “handled” by a driver, when more distractions are added, the demands on the driver increase. This can increase the risk of having a collision. Therefore, you should reduce or eliminate the distractions within your control.

Take Steps

Once you are aware of your most common driving distractions, you need to make changes right away. Here are some tips that can help prevent or reduce the risk that you will be involved in a traffic collision:
• Be sure all of your interior controls are set prior to starting your drive (e.g. steering wheel and seat positions, stereo, rear and side-view mirrors, etc.).
• Get comfortable. Wear clothes and footwear that don’t restrict your ability to operate the car safely.
• Put reading material and all other usual distractions in the trunk.
• Make it a habit to use your cell phone only when you’re parked. Shut off your cell phone or, if needed, have a passenger take the call or have it go to voice mail.
• Do your personal grooming before you get into the car to drive.
• Pull over to deal with any distractions that can't wait, including looking at maps or reading an e-mail.
• Do not reach for items that have fallen or shifted unless absolutely necessary and can be done safely.

It’s the law…

Highway traffic acts already address careless driving. For example, under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, drivers guilty of driving without due care and attention will receive six demerit points, fines up to $1,000 and/or a jail term of six months. In some cases, your license may be suspended for up to two years. This is one of Ontario's toughest rules of the road.

As adults, we may feel that it is our right to drive. In reality, driving is a privilege and an enormous responsibility to ourselves as drivers, to our passengers, and to pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists. One second of distraction is enough to change the rest of your life, and the lives of the people around you. So do your part and be a safe, focused driver.

MAKE IT HAPPEN …ON YOUR WAY TO WORK!

Ask yourself the following questions to help identify your risk of being a distracted driver while driving to work or to an appointment:

1. Are you well rested and relaxed?
2. What about breakfast? Are you grabbing a bite on the way to work?
3. Do you have your route planned out?
4. Are you driving on rural roads with narrow lanes?
5. Have you checked the traffic, roadway and weather conditions?
6. Have you given yourself plenty of time to get to your destination without speeding or driving aggressively?
7. Are you and your passengers buckled up?
8. Are your mirrors, seat, climate and radio/CD controls adjusted prior to driving off?
9. Is your cell phone turned off?
10. Are you driving on congested roadways?
11. Are you doing some last minute grooming? 

Consider your responses to these questions. Think about what you can do to prepare yourself for the drive and lower your risk of being a distracted driver.

“Keep your hands on the wheel, your eyes on the road and your mind on the driving.”

Transport Canada

Ontario Ministry of Transportation

National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (U.S.): Distracted and Drowsy Driving

 Answers to Find the Distractions

1) Food and drinks – Consume foods and beverages before your trip, or during an off-road break.
2) Children – Don’t allow fighting in the car. Instead, pull over to deal with it safely.
3) Loose objects – Secure all loose objects before starting the car so they don’t go flying during a sudden stop.
4) Maps – Try to plan routes before leaving, or have a navigator keep simple written directions that won’t cause a visual distraction.
5) Personal electronic device – Keep all cell phones, PDAs, etc. off while driving.
6) Stop! - If you didn’t have your eyes and mind on the road, would you have seen this construction worker in time?
7) Decorations – Keep your rearview mirror, dashboard and back window clear for better visibility.
8) Personal grooming – Make-up, hair and wardrobe adjustments should never be made on the road.
9) Conversation – Keep it light and to a minimum to keep your mind on the road.
10) Roadside distractions – Don’t let billboards or the scene of an accident take your eyes off the road.
11) Audio system – When possible, preset or preprogram these items.
12) Toys – Before the trip, give your children small, soft and quiet toys to keep them busy.