Driver Condition and Emotion

VIDEO: TEXTING and DRIVING: IT CAN WAIT

DRIVING DISTRACTIONS

Driving distracted is also known as inattentive driving. Distractions are deadly because they take your mind and eyes off the road. Even if it’s only for a few seconds, that’s enough to prevent you from seeing a hazard and delay your reaction time.

Which of the following has distracted your driving?

Eating

Drinking a beverage

Tuning the radio or IPOD

Talking or calling someone on a cell phone

Putting on make-up

Listening to a portable multimedia player

Texting

Steering with your knees (kneeing)

Using a GPS

Staring at something on the side of the road

Reaching for something

VIDEO: DRIVING DISTRACTED

The following statistics were taken from www.stoptextsstopwrecks.org

Fact #1: 5 seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55 mph, that’s enough, time to cover the length of a football field. (2009, VTTI – Virginia Tech Transportation Institute)

Fact #2: Reaching for a phone, dialing, texting and other uses of portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by 3 times. (2009, VTTI)

Fact #3: 11% of all drivers under 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted. (2012, NHTSA)

Fact #4: 49% of drivers with cell phones under the age of 35 send or read text messages while driving. (2011, Harris Poll)

Fact #5: 60% of drivers use cell phones while driving. (2011 Harris Poll)

Fact #6: 57% of drivers rate themselves as better than the average driver. (2011, Harris Poll)

Fact #7: 42% of young adult drivers are very/somewhat confident that they can safely text while driving. (2012, Ad Council)

Fact #8: 68% of teens and young adults disagreed that it is easy to text while driving and still pay attention to the road. (2012, Ad Council)

Fact #9: 80% of teens and young adults indicated concern about the issue of texting while driving. (2012, Ad Council)

Fact #10: 49% of adults say they have been passengers in a car when the driver was sending or reading text messages on their cell phone. (2010, Pew Research Center)

Fact #11: 44% of adults say they have been passengers of drivers who used the cell phone in a way that put themselves or others in danger. (2010, Pew Research Center)

Fact #12: 36% of teens say they have been involved in a near-crash because of their own or someone else’s distracted driving. (2010, Pew Research Center)

Fact #13: 78% of teens and young adults say they have read an SMS message while driving. (2012, Ad Council)

Fact #14: 71% of teens and young people say they have composed/sent SMS messages while driving. (2012, Ad Council)

Fact #15: As of December 2012, 171.3 billion text messages were sent in the US (includes PR, the Territories and Guam), every month. (CTIA)

Fact #16: In 2011, 3,331 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, compared to 3,267 in 2010. An additional 387,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, compared to 416,000 injured in 2010. (NHTSA)

Fact #17: You’re 3x more likely to crash if you text while driving. (VTTI)

VIDEO: JUST A FEW SECONDS

No one should text and drive – even for 5 seconds.

What are some things you can do to prevent texting while driving? For more information go to:

http://phillycaraccidentguys.com/ways-parents-encourage-teens-not-to-text-drive/

Learn the Facts about Distracted Driving

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a division of the U.S. Transportation Department, distracted driving is “any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.” It’s not just texting or making calls on a cell phone; any activity that diverts a driver’s attention puts that driver, and her passengers, and everyone else sharing the road at serious risk.

VIDEO: TEEN DRIVERS - MOMENTS BEFORE A CRASH

The Four Types of Driving Distractions

Visual – taking your eyes off the road.

Auditory – noises that distract you; something not related to driving.

Manual – taking your hands off the wheel.

Cognitive – thinking about something other than driving.

NEW YORK STATE'S MOBILE PHONE and PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE LAWS

Under New York State law no person shall operate a motor vehicle upon a public highway while using a mobile telephone or any portable electronic device while such vehicle is in motion.

Illegal activity includes holding a portable electronic device and:

• Talking on a handheld mobile telephone

• Composing, sending, reading, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving, or retrieving electronic data such as e-mail, text messages, or web pages

• Viewing, taking, or transmitting images

  • Playing games

Use of Earphones while driving or riding a bicycle: It is unlawful to operate upon any public highway in New York State a motor vehicle, limited use automobile, limited use motorcycle or bicycle while the operator is wearing more than one earphone attached to a radio, tape player or other audio device. (375.24-a)

Definitions:

“Engage in a call” – talking into or listening on a hand-held mobile telephone, but does not include holding such device to activate, deactivate or initiate a function of such telephone.

"Portable electronic device" – any hand-held mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with mobile data access, laptop computer, pager, broadband personal communication device, two-way messaging device, electronic game, or portable computing device.

"Using" – holding a portable electronic device while viewing, taking or transmitting images, playing games, or composing, sending, reading, viewing, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving or retrieving e-mail, text messages, or other electronic data.

Violation Penalties and Fines:

1. The penalty for a violation of this law shall be 5 driver violation points and a fine, as described below. The surcharge for violations can be up to $93.

2. Primary enforcement law - an officer may stop you if you are observed using a hand held device.

3. Probationary license, Class DJ, Class MJ or a learner permit laws and fines:

• Conviction will result in a mandatory 120-day driver license or permit suspension.

• Subsequent convictions within 6 months of a license restoration will result in a revocation of at least 1 year of a probationary license, junior license or learner permit.

4. Senior license holders:

• For a first offense, $50 to $200.

• For a second offense committed within 18 months, $50 to $250.

• For a third or subsequent offense committed within 18 months, $50 to $450.

• A surcharge for these violations will also be imposed.

• If you receive 11 points in an 18 month period, your driver license may be suspended.

Exceptions to the Laws:

1. When the driver uses a hands-free mobile telephone, which allows the user to communicate without the use of either hand.

2. Using a handheld electronic device that is affixed to a vehicle surface.

3. Using a GPS device that is attached to the vehicle.

4. When the purpose of the phone call is to communicate an emergency to a police or fire department, a hospital or physician's office, or an ambulance corps.

5. When operating an authorized emergency vehicle in the performance of official duties.

VIDEO: "ON MY WAY"

VIDEO: ANGRY DRIVER

AGGRESSIVE DRIVING and ROAD RAGE

Aggressive driving is not road rage but can escalate into road rage.

Road Rage is: an emotional state of anger or hostility, resulting from an incident involving the use of a motor vehicle, which escalates into violent criminal acts, or threats or attempts of violent acts. Road rage may include provocative behavior intended to threaten or harass others or instill fear in them.

The difference between aggressive driving and road rage: Aggressive driving generally involves the violation of a traffic safety law, while road rage generally involves breaking a criminal law.

Aggressive Driving Road Rage

- Driving in a bold, selfish, or pushy - Using a vehicle as a weapon with

manner without regard for the rights intent to do harm.

or safety of other drivers. - Physical assault of a person or

- Violates traffic and safety laws; vehicle as a result of a traffic incident.

(ticketable offense)! - A criminal offense!

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR EMOTIONS

Avoid congestion - change your schedule or route if necessary.

Improve your comfort level - turn on the air conditioner, play music, adjust your seat.

Change your attitude - don’t take the actions of other driver’s personally.

Holster your finger; obscene gestures often lead to confrontations.

Go easy on the horn’ use it as a warning, not to “tell someone off.

Use the left lane for passing only.

If you drive slowly, pull over and let others go by.

Get off your portable electronic device! Don’t drive distracted.

Avoid all confrontations. If another driver challenges you, let them go by.

VIDEO: ROAD RAGE KARMA

DEALING WITH FATIGUE WHILE DRIVING

Sleeping and driving do not mix. When you are behind the wheel of a car, being fatigued is dangerous. Drivers who are tired have slower reaction times, decreased awareness, and impaired judgment.

Symptoms of Fatigue

Your eyes close or go out of focus by themselves.

You have trouble keeping your head up.

You cannot stop yawning.

You have wandering disconnected thoughts.

You do not remember driving the last few miles.

You drift between lanes, tailgate, or miss traffic signs.

You keep jerking the car back into the lane.

You have drifted off the road and hit the rumble strips which produce a loud noise and vibrations.

Who is Most At Risk? All Drivers who are:

Sleep-deprived or fatigued.

Driving long distances without rest breaks.

Driving through the night, the early afternoon, or at other times when you are normally asleep.

Taking medication that increases sleepiness or drinking alcohol.

Driving alone.

Driving on long, rural, boring roads.

Frequent travelers, such as business travelers and long-distance commuters.

VIDEO: DROWSY DRIVING