Road Traffic Digest No.

12 Distractions During Driving

Ref: Road Accident/causes/Human Errors-3

3D

Multitasking behind the wheel can be dangerous.

Distracted driving in its various forms contributes to about 18% of serious or fatal crashes. Remember A slight distraction at high speeds can prove fatal !

www.tsunamionroads.org

For safe driving, proper coordination of three systems is extremely necessary viz: Eyes - fixed on to the road Hands to have a good grip on the steering Mind - should react quickly to any unfavourable situation
An act that affects the efficiency of any one of these three factors can prove to be potentially dangerous.

Some common distractions are

Distraction No.1- Use of Cell Phone

Distracted driving due to cell phone has become a dangerous trend on Indian roads and at present this is the most common among all distractions while driving. In some countries like USA, statistics indicate that 28% of all car accidents are caused by drivers using cell phones.

www.tsunamionroads.org

THE RISK :
Talking on the mobile can delay our reaction time by 0.51.5 seconds and the chances of fatal crashes increase four to five times more than normal !! Driving while using a cell phone can reduce brain activity by 37%. Many believe that using a mobile phone while driving has the same or even greater risk as that of being drunk [comparable to .08mg/dl of alcohol].

www.tsunamionroads.org

You may argue that when you are allowed to talk to your co-passengers or to listen music while driving then why cant you attend a call. Yes, it is true to some extent. Most of the driving you do is at a subconscious level of brain. The active involvement of brain is required only when some unusual situation comes on road. The reaction time of your active brain is so fast that you hardly notice this. So far as listening to music or chatting to your co-passengers is concerned, it does not distract or affect your active brain significantly.

However
www.tsunamionroads.org

- - - talking on mobile phone or indulging in SERIOUS or LOGICAL discussions with co-passengers certainly causes greater distraction or reduces reaction time significantly. When dialing or talking on mobile or engaging in an intense conversation with co-passengers you cannot watch over the surrounding traffic as much is needed.

www.tsunamionroads.org

An increase in the rate of crashes expected with time because the popularity of mobile phones has grown enormously [93 crore subscribers up to 31st May 2012]

Today I earned Rs. 35 Lakhs

Texting: The MOST dangerous (23 times riskier) among all

cell phone related tasks, including talking, dialing, or reading messages on the phone while driving. It engages and distracts all three systems i.e. visual[eyes off the road], manual [fingers on key pad] and the brain. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, this means you cross about 100 meters length of roads blind !!

www.tsunamionroads.org

Hands-free set cell phone also distracts your mind and is just as dangerous as a hand-held set. Reason being: Though your hands are free, the concentration power of brain is affected as it becomes inattentive during talking. Hands only follow commands of the brain and if that commander is busy the army will sit idle during any alarming incidence.

www.tsunamionroads.org

Talking while driving a two wheeler is equally, if not more dangerous.

It is dangerous even for pedestrians:

Walking with phones leads to attention deficit, slowing down of reflexes and make us blind to dangers on the road.

www.tsunamionroads.org

There is a rising concern about many serious health hazards & warnings in relation to cell phones like brain cancer, reduced fertility, sleep disorder, anxiety to mobile ring, etc, etc.

www.tsunamionroads.org

However.

- - - - we have yet to report the FIRST death due to cell phone induced brain cancer in the world

What we can confirm right now is that - - - - - www.tsunamionroads.org

- - - - - approx. 60,000 deaths occur every year due to cell phone related distracted driving all over the world [ a very conservative estimate !]

www.tsunamionroads.org

Distraction No. 2 : Dashboard Dining:

With the popularity of fast food, the people are frequently seen eating or drinking during driving. The fast food chains are making changes in their menu and its packaging so that it is better suited for dining while driving.

www.tsunamionroads.org

Eating while driving not only causes distractions but can also complicates the condition of a person after accident by causing choking of respiratory tract due to aspiration of food particle. This choking due to food items in mouth can kill someone instantly !! Not only this, hyperglycemia due to excess calories may lead to dozing behind the wheel !!

www.tsunamionroads.org

On the other hand, automobile companies are encouraging dashboard dining by providing modifications like cup/bottle holders, folding tables or even small refrigerators. We feel this is a wrong trend and has to be discouraged.

Are these automobile Co.s aware of these facts??

www.tsunamionroads.org

Distraction No.3: Adjusting Radio, CD Player or GPS:

It is frequently observed that people while driving try to tune in the radio or look for CDs/cassettes in glove compartment that divides their attention. If you are a highly selective type of music lover then it is always better to keep your favourite pieces ready to play before driving. If you have a co-passenger then instruct him to do so.

Distraction No. 4 : Children

They may distract drivers attention by playing or talking constantly, throwing toys, frequently changing their seats from front to back or play with the steering or other important levers. Sometimes a ball can move forwards in drivers seat and can be trapped under the brakes. Children should be taught car manners just as we teach them table manners.

Distraction No. 5 love-making during driving

[Car as a love nest] Although no data are available, it is not infrequent to find love-making during driving as a cause of severe or even fatal accidents on roads. The moving car has been found a safe, easy, cozy and economic place for dating or lovemaking. In spite of the fact that you are on the road, you enjoy good privacy in a car, which may be even better than in a restaurant.

The intensity of these moments can certainly increase the intensity of accidents !

We are not saying that love birds do it intentionally or in a planned way, sometimes it happens like that.

Thanks [really?] to the invention of floor gear in new cars that has broken the continuity of front seat thereby keeping the love birds apart.

For the same reason some romantic couples might miss the single, uninterrupted front seat of old model cars.

Our film producers are also encouraging this trend like Mr Bhatt who is suggesting many tips to the viewers

See how Bipasha is training John about How to drive in case you are blindfolded - - -

Similarly Jacqueline is training Emraan, How to hold steering with legs When some one loses both upper limbs in road accidents!!

We would like to remind our watch dog i.e. Censor Board that besides alcohol & cigarette, there are much more dangerous issues like distracted driving which can INSTANTLY KILL someone. Of course these days sex is not a big issue in our film to be monitored seriously by Censor Board, however, its display in a wrong place and with a wrong message is certainly to be checked.

Distraction No.6: Applying Make-up or combing hair, etc [of course for ladies]

Some even feel an irresistible desire for make-up and customize their car accordingly

NOW our traffic police is taking this make-up spree behind the wheel seriously.

Distraction No. 7 : A beautiful lady on the road or on

the hoarding may also seriously detract your attention.

Distraction No. 8 : Watching TV while driving or reading including maps

It is difficult to understand how these auto Co.s get permission for installation of such gadgets like TV on dash boards !! Do our road safety organizations have any role or control over it !

Distraction No. 9 : we often see people lighting a

cigarette, belting themselves or co-passengers,

repeatedly glancing at wrist watch, etc during driving.

Distraction No. 10 : One peculiar distraction typical in

India only, is bowing before the gods to pay their respects while passing through the road side temples.

What to do for offenders, especially Mb users?

The surprising/funny fact is that 84% of cell phone users say that they believe using a cell phone while driving is risky or dangerous, but do it anyway or cant help it. If you or your business are really dependent on calls or cannot avoid them while driving, it is preferable to have a driver. This would also help you to do additional work besides attending phone calls and the extra earning thus obtained certainly will cover the salary of your driver.

Besides awareness, the only solution that remains is that of imposing frequent penalties on offenders, not only for the benefit of users but more importantly for the benefit other road users .

Please leave multitasking to our politicians as they are more experienced in doing many serious jobs at a time even in assembly hall !!

Watching P@#n

- - - in the next digest we will discuss some other human errors on roads , followed by automobile and road defects. After that we will take up the role of different agencies to control this malady [like the role of citizens, traffic authorities, automobile companies, public works depts., health dept. , the media, parents, NGOs, etc in this scenario.

www.tsunamionroads.org

You have received this message from the 'Tsunami on Roads Organization' as a part of an awareness campaign against road traffic hazards. If you find any merit in this message, please forward it to your contacts.
From Conscious Citizens, India [www.tsunamionroads.org]
For the previous digests please visit:

http://www.tsunamionroads.org/rtd.html or http://www.scribd.com or www.slideshare.net To receive such digests in future please inform us at: consciouscitizensindia@gmail.com

www.tsunamionroads.org

In future, besides road accidents, the following topics will also be discussed on this platform :
How to decongest our cities Vehicle induced environmental pollution Arrogance on Roads: Aggressive driving and Road rage Public Attitude towards traffic rules in the City Problems of pedestrians Road traffic and global warming The economics of vehicles Petroleum Subsidy: Right or Wrong? Biography of urban roads in India Traffic Policeman: Problems & Challenges Drinking & Driving

Jai Hind