Distracting Driving: Technology and Paying Attention

We’ve seen the headlines on the news- an accident caused by a distracted driver. Lives lost.

Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 3,522 lives nation-wide in 2021.  Between 2012-2021, a total of 32,657 died in distracted driving crashes.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) leads the effort nationwide to save lives by preventing this dangerous and often tragic behavior. These statistics (from a May 2023 report) confirm that distracted driving is risky, not only to vehicle occupants, but to pedestrians, cyclists, other drivers, and properties.

Updated vehicle technology is great, but it’s still up to the driver to pay attention. With newer safety features in cars and trucks, it’s easy to get acclimated to your sensors doing the work for you. While these features are geared to helping the driver with increased safety measures, don’t become complacent and let your car do the driving for you.

What is distracted driving?

Simply put, it’s when a driver diverts their attention away from the task of driving and focuses on some other activity which may include texting or talking on their phone, adjusting the radio or climate controls and conversations with passengers.

NHTSA (2021 data) shared that eight percent of fatal crashes, 14 percent of injury crashes and 13 percent of all traffic crashes were reported as being caused by a distraction. In addition to the forementioned 3,522 killed, another 362,415 were injured by distracted drivers. 644 nonoccupants (pedestrians, cyclists, and others) were killed in distracted-affected traffic crashes during this same time period.

The largest percentage of drivers involved in fatal crashes are drivers aged 15-20.

In North Carolina

The North Carolina Department of Insurance (www.ncdoi.gov) and Commissioner Mike Causey shares these tips to help drivers avoid the pitfalls of distracted driving:

• Don’t use your phone at all while driving! That includes texting, websites, or social media. If you really need to send a text or email, pull off the road safely or select a passenger as a “designated texter.”
• Don’t eat while driving.
• Do personal grooming like hair and makeup at home, not on the road.
• Set your navigation systems or radio stations before you start driving.
• Ask someone in the car to tend to the needs of children if necessary.

By the Numbers

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reported these crash statistics in 2020: 44,128 crashes caused by distracted driving, 18,552 injuries caused by distracted driving and 157 deaths caused by distracted driving.

In 2021, NCDOT reported 18% of crashes involved a distracted driver.

NCDOT’s (www.ncdot.gov) website shares these laws for drivers:

Cellular use: Drivers under 18 are prohibited from using a mobile phone or technology associated with a mobile phone while driving except in emergencies or when talking to a parent or spouse. Violators pay a $25 fine but receive no driver license points, insurance surcharge or court costs.

Texting: Drivers are prohibited from reading or writing text messages or emails while the vehicle is moving. Violators are subject to a $100 fine and court costs.

NC Vision Zero

The NC Vision Zero initiative is a state-wide program which aims to eliminate roadway deaths and injuries using data-driven prevention strategies.

It shares, “Vision Zero is a traffic safety approach focused on eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries, while improving access to safe, sustainable, and equitable mobility for everyone. Setting zero as the only acceptable target, Vision Zero sends a strong message: deaths on our transportation network are unacceptable and preventable.”

One of their safety focus concerns is distracted driving. Vision Zero shares that 87% of North Carolinians thinks is unacceptable to for a driver to use a hand-held phone while driving, they encourage people to avoid contacting loved ones while they are driving, but if you do need to reach someone who is driving devise a plan. For instance, call twice and hang-up, that can be your code for them to pull over safely knowing there is an emergency.

There are three types of distractions. Cognitive (taking your mind off driving), Visual (taking your eyes off the road), and Manual (taking your hands off the wheel).

More from NC Vision Zero (www.ncvisionzero.org):

Taking the phone away from your ear does not take away the risk.

“Even with two hands on the wheel, using a hands-free device, such as a Bluetooth or a voice command program, distracts your brain and makes you “cognitively blind.” In fact, “the activity in the area of the brain that processes moving images decreases by up to ⅓ when listening or talking on a phone”. (National Safety Council)

Multi-tasking is a myth!

“Your brain cannot process two cognitively-demanding things at once, such as reading text and driving. Instead, during distracted driving, your attention shifts rapidly between two tasks. In those milliseconds between, situations can rapidly change in a moving vehicle.”

Is there a safer time of day?

According to the National Safety Council (www.nsc.org):

On average in 2021, fatal car crashes were more frequent on weekends, peaking on Saturday. The number of nonfatal crashes tended to be higher on weekdays, peaking on Friday.

For both fatal and nonfatal crashes, the peak time of day was 4 p.m. to 7:59 p.m., but peak crash periods vary substantially over the span of a year:

• During the spring and summer months, fatal crashes tended to peak between 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.
• In contrast, the nonfatal crash peak is earlier in the summer, from noon to 3:59 p.m.
• From November through March, the peak for fatal crashes was from 4 p.m. to 7:59 p.m.

No matter the time of day, it’s important to not be a distracted driver.

Excuses, excuses!

In an article shared in Canada (www.driving.ca), police officers in Ottawa shared some of the creative (and humorous) excuses drivers shared when pulled over for distracted driving incidents:

“I wasn’t texting, I was checking email.”

“I don’t have my phone with me,” to the officer who heard a phone start to ring.

“I’m only reading.”

“It’s not a communication device, I’m using it as a radio.”

“I was placing an important bet in Las Vegas on the UFC.”

“I thought I could use it at a red light,” to the officer who recorded the driver stopped at an intersection through two red-light cycles.

“You can’t give me a ticket for this. I got one last week!”

“I wasn’t on my phone, I was holding it. I have to hold it. I can’t let it go.”

“I have a new girlfriend and our song came on the radio, so I had to call her.”

“But I had it on airplane mode.”

“I’m from Toronto.”

Technology is a Tool, You are still the Driver

Whether you’re from Toronto or from here in Matthews, driving is a responsibility.

Updated vehicle technology is great, but it’s still up to the driver to pay attention. With newer safety features in cars and trucks, it’s easy to get acclimated to your sensors doing the work for you. While these features are geared to helping the driver with increased safety measures, don’t become complacent and let your car do the driving for you.

It’s important to remember that you are still the driver. Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Sport Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Warning (back-up camera) are all great to have, we still need to use our eyes, windows, mirrors, and our common sense to keep our minds on the road.

What is this technology all about? NHTSA.gov defines the most common features in today’s vehicles.

Forward Collision Warning: Detects a potential collision with a vehicle ahead and provides a warning to the driver.

Lane Departure Warning: Monitors the vehicle’s position within the driving lane and alerts the driver as the vehicle approaches or crosses lane markers.

Rear Cross Traffic Warning (back-up camera): Warns the driver of a potential collision, while in reverse, that may be outside the view of the backup camera.

Blind Spot Warning (in the side mirrors): Warns of a vehicle in the driver’s blind spot.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX is just one of many models with advanced safety technology. It features a Back-up Camera, Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Keep Assist.

Lane Keep Assist is newer technology, unlike lane departure warning, lane-keeping technology uses cameras to monitor your car’s position and will gently steer the vehicle back toward the center if it drifts too close to the edge of the lane. Requiring clear lane markings (and we’ve all driven country roads with no painted lines at all), it’s a great tool, but not a substitute for paying attention.

Going “Old School”

Do you remember your driver’s test? Three-point turns, parallel parking, adjusting your mirrors, watching for passing vehicles, turning and looking behind you before you back out, and hands at “ten and two”? Sweating profusely and hoping you’ll pass (maybe that was just me).

These guidelines are still important to be a safe driver. Just as you know not to pass in a “no passing zone”, you should remember to keep your eyes on the road before you. While a forward collision warning system is an amazing tool in an emergency, it’s not meant to help you tailgate.

At Scott McCorkle’s Liberty Buick-GMC Trucks, we want you to feel comfortable with the technology in your new vehicle and our team is here to answer any questions you may have.

We want you to drive safely, whether you are in your new vehicle from us or your grannie’s hand-me-down roadster. Stay Alert North Carolina, and we’ll see you soon.