Cell phones and other driving distractions

Here at LotPro.com, we’re always urging drivers to pay attention while driving. This morning, on my way to work, I noticed car stopped at a red light almost 4 car lengths behind the next vehicle. As I passed on the right, I noticed that the driver was reading her day planner…

I can drive and primp and shave and read…

For years, Mercedes-Benz cars had no cup holders. Even though they were standard equipment on all domestic and Japanese models, German engineers couldn’t understand why American drivers found these things to be so handy. The Germans certainly had a point – when you’re driving 120 mph on the Autobahn, you need to stay alert to the point where eating and drinking are not part of the driving equation.

Passing that car this morning got me to thinking – how much do our in-car distractions contribute to vehicular accidents, not to mention the near misses? We all have our stories about inattentive drivers weaving in (and sometimes out) of their lanes while engaged in cell phone conversations. I, myself, witnessed one woman applying mascara and talking on her cell phone while driving. I have also been passed by men shaving (fortunately with an electric razor) and reading the newspaper while driving in rush hour traffic. Do we, as Americans, really have so little time that we feel the need to do these things while driving?

Cell phone use targeted

Cell phones, in particular, seem to be the common denominator for distracted drivers. As such, they have been targeted by local and state governments and law enforcement agencies. California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Washington D.C. have banned in-vehicle hand held cell phone use, with more states and municipalities considering legislation.

According to a study by Wierwille and Tijerina (1996) outlined in a study by NHTSA in 2000, 55.5% of crashes were caused by driver inattention inside the vehicle. The distractions ranged from changing radio stations to – you guessed it – cell phone use. A PEW research study in 2006 found that 32% of men and 25% of women admit that they don’t drive as safely when they’re using their cell phones. In an interesting sidelight, none of these studies indicate that using a hands-free set makes a significant difference.

The upside to cell phones

While there are plenty of things wrong with the cell phone/driving interface, let’s not forget how useful they can be. While driving, you can report an accident or traffic conditions, report erratic drivers to police and even keep your friends and family from worrying by letting them know where you are and why you’re late.

Car cell phone rules

There ought to be a Ten Commandments of cell phone use in your car (Infoworld published one for general use back in 2000), but really, most of it is common sense, so I’ll cut it in half:

1.    Keep cell phone use to a minimum.
2.    If you have a passenger, let them handle the call.
3.    When you make a call, pull over whenever possible – especially if the conversation could take more than a minute or so.
4.    Let incoming callers know you are driving and, therefore, you are unable to explain the theory of relativity in detail.
5.    In bad weather, you need to forget the phone. A missed call is better than a trip to the ditch.

The Bottom Line

Use common sense when using your cell phone in the car. Applying makeup, shaving and reading the Wall Street Journal should be addressed by having the offenders spend a weekend dressed in orange while picking up litter by the side of the road. Here at LotPro.com, we want you “on the road” driving safely.

Tags: cell phone, NHTSA, Wall Street Journal