Warning: The Three Most Risky Driving Behaviors
More people are driving than ever. Worldwide, the number of people driving cars on a daily basis is increasing. In the United States, as the population grows, more people are driving here as well. At the same time, people are living closer together than they have in the past century — more than two-thirds of the world’s population is projected to live in cities by 2050, according to the United Nations. In 2015, Americans drove more miles than ever before, a total of 3.1 million vehicle miles, according to the Federal Highway Administration. As a result of the increased vehicle miles, a 2004 report estimated that by 2020, traffic accidents will be the third major killer worldwide after HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.
Unfortunately, the majority of vehicle accidents are caused by human error; more than weather, poor road conditions, animals, etc. However, there are ways to avoid the growing number of collisions.
Depending on your insurance and what state you live in, more responsibility can fall on you if the authorities determine the accident to be your fault. You also have to bear the emotional consequences if someone else is injured or killed based on a risky driving behavior.
Here are three of the most dangerous things to do while driving in the U.S.
1. Using a cell phone.
As most Americans from 13 to 93 can attest, almost everyone constantly has a cell phone within arm’s reach. However, that ease of access can be one of the most dangerous things while driving.
The dangers of texting while driving are well known. In the U.S., 47 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands all forbid texting while operating a motor vehicle, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. The National Highway Transit Safety Administration has undertaken an extensive advertising campaign to combat texting and driving, now entering its fifth year. An estimated 3,450 people were killed in the U.S. in 2016 due to incidents involving distracted drivers, according to the NHTSA.
But it’s not just texting which causes the increased potential for collisions. Drivers dialing or talking on cell phones are included among distracted drivers as well. For example, dialing a phone number takes your eyes off the road, possibly at a crucial moment. That is why some states have also implemented “hands free” laws – meaning drivers are only permitted to use a cell phone while driving if it can be done by blue tooth or other mechanism that does not require the use of your hands to place the call.
Smartphones also open up a host of other temptations, such as social media apps and cameras. Young people, age 15–29, are statistically more likely to use cell phones while driving, making them more likely to be involved in distracted driving crashes. The NHTSA recommends turning off electronic devices before beginning to drive, speaking up when you see a driver using an electronic device, and talking with teens about their driving habits. Teens should be encouraged to find a place in the car where they can store their phone so they will not be tempted to use it while driving.
2. Playing with car controls.
Many new cars sold in the U.S. come with complicated central computers. Whether it’s a GPS, stereo, hands-free phone or the radio, the bright touch screens on car consoles can be as distracting as cellular phones. Despite the fact that many new cars come with GPS units built in, most people still use their phones for GPS or for music streaming, according to a 2013 J.D. Power and Associates survey.
Like a cell phone, pulling over to program the radio or change the settings is the safest way to use an in-car GPS. Before driving your new car for the first time, practice working the controls and using voice commands to do so. Understanding the location and function of the car’s controls can minimize the level of distraction when out on the roadway.
3. Eating.
Let’s face it, we are busy people. Often, we do not have time to stop to eat a meal. Fast-food restaurants cater to our busy lifestyles by making food readily available to us in our cars. A poll of drivers found that 65 percent of them reported eating and driving, according to online insurance company Esurance. Some foods are more suitable than others to eat while driving. But any kind of eating creates a distraction. Crumbs falling onto your shirt or pants, condiments dripping onto your neck tie, a drink spilling on your blouse – all of these happen every day. The results can be devastating as these simple occurrences lead to significant distractions while driving.
If it is necessary to eat while driving, you can take steps to make the process safer. Prepare your food in such a way to make it safer and easier to eat. For example, unwrap a burger, place French fries in a cupholder where they are easier to eat, peel the straw from your drink and insert it into the cup. These simple steps will reduce the time your eyes are off the road and on your meal. And, when possible, have a passenger prepare your food, get the napkins, and assist if something spills or drops.
