Danger of Fatal Distracted Driving Accident Remains in Illinois and Indiana
In tandem with the tenth anniversary of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the annual national public safety campaign promoted by Illinois’ renowned National Safety Council (NSC), a new research study has been released regarding the dangers of drivers operating motor vehicles with distraction. Entitled “Understanding Driver Distraction: How Banning Use of Cell Phones and Interactive In-Vehicle Technology While Driving Can Save Lives,” the complete report has been made available for download by the safety advocacy group.
Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Distracted Driving Awareness Month was postponed from April to October this year. For companies interested in taking part in educating their workers and the general public about the risks of fatality when drivers are distracted behind the wheel, the NSC offers free posters, videos, and more in its NSC Safe Driving Employer Toolkit.
2020 NSC Report Revelations Regarding Distracted Driving Dangers
Delving into this new research report from an injury victim advocacy perspective, there are several important points to be considered insofar as driving the roads of Indiana, Illinois, or the rest of our nation. These concerns are especially vital when distractions involve drivers of larger vehicles, such as semi-trucks, big rigs, tractor trailers, and 18-wheelers here in our “Crossroads of America.” From the report:
1. First Six Months of 2020 Deadlier Than Last Year Despite COVID-19 Stay at Home Orders
There is no dispute that our roadways have had less traffic due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and governmental quarantine orders. Nevertheless, the death rate for the time period January – June 2020 is higher than it has been in past years.
Distracted driving, along with speeding and the failure to wear seat belts, is considered to be a primary reason for the higher 2020 death rate.
For more, read our earlier discussion in “Roadway Death Rates Skyrocket during COVID-19: Warnings Issued for Labor Day 2020 Travel.”
2. Smartphones “Morphing” Into In-Vehicle Systems Instead of Not Connecting While Driving
One of the major concerns of the researchers is the need for drivers to remain focused upon the task of operating a motor vehicle and not talking on their phones. This is the essence of distracted driving: the driver chatting or texting on the phone and becoming sidetracked from the road.
However, instead of working to ban or block the ability of drivers to be distracted by their phones, car makers are working hard to find ways to allow the driver to circumvent laws that forbid the use of a smartphone while driving.
From the report (emphasis added):
“Today, nearly every working-age American has a smartphone with the potential to connect to the wider world through phone calls, email, voicemail, texts, apps and the internet. Despite public sentiment turning against cell phone use while driving, many still admit to engaging in this dangerous behavior. Even beyond Bluetooth connectivity, automakers and phone software developers are creating ways to morph the handheld phone operating system into the vehicle itself, through an interface in the in-vehicle infotainment system (IVIS) console or the steering wheel….
“Research shows that any driver use of electronic devices increases cognitive distraction – the inability to focus on a primary task such as driving. The human brain is not capable of multitasking, or doing two things at once. Instead, the brain is constantly attention switching between the two tasks, never giving full focus to either one. This means that even when people engage with their IVIS system, they simply cannot also focus on driving. Cognitive distraction is harmless if one is at home, using a phone and watching TV at the same time. It can be deadly if one is using a phone while driving.” Report, page 3.
3. Disturbing Survey Results: Most Drivers Still Using Phones While Driving
The NSC Researchers looked to data compiled by AAA to learn more about the attitude of drivers toward the use of smartphones while operating their vehicle. The results were troubling:
- 60% of drivers admitted they talked on a hands-free cell phone while driving;
- 49% of drivers admitted they talked on a handheld cell phone while driving;
- 44% of drivers admitted they read a text or email while driving; and
- 34% of drivers admitted they typed or sent a text or email while driving.
When approximately half (49%) of drivers admit to survey takers that they talk on a phone held in their hand while driving and a majority of drivers (60%) admit to survey takers they chat while driving using a hands-free cell phone, the continued contribution of distracted driving to fatal motor vehicle accident rates is clear.
Of importance here: research confirms that hands-free devices in a motor vehicle do not make it safe to use a smartphone while driving. The NSC Report explains (Report, page 12):
“The cognitive distraction from paying attention to conversation or IVIS alerts – from listening and responding to a disembodied voice – is the same on both handheld and hands-free devices, because the driver’s brain is allotting some of its processing power to the phone conversation rather than scanning the road, tracking the movement and position of other vehicles and watching for hazards.”
For more, read: ARE DASHBOARDS DEADLY? VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMS AND FATAL ACCIDENTS.
Continuing Danger of Fatal Distracted Driving Crash in Indiana and Illinois
Eight people die every day in this country in motor vehicle accidents that involved distracted driving. Report, page 4. For those of us living and working in Indiana and Illinois, the risk of being serious injured or killed in a fatal motor crash is higher than in other parts of the country because of the high volume of traffic on our roadways. Our part of the country is a transportation hub and as we drive along the Borman Expressway (and other major routes) four-wheelers share the roads with commercial vehicles moving freight and cargo on a deadline.
In any serious or fatal motor vehicle accident, it is vital to determine whether or not a driver was distracted at the time of the crash and if a phone distraction contributed to the accident and its consequences.
If the distraction correlates to a car maker’s internal infotainment system, then consideration must be given to that manufacturer’s contributions to the tragedy.
From NSC President Lorraine Martin:
“The research is clear – we can save lives and prevent injuries if we drive attentively and avoid distraction. This October, I encourage all motorists to commit to driving attentively, particularly avoiding cell phone and in-vehicle technology that takes your hands, eyes or mind off the task of driving. Let’s all work together to keep our roads safe and just drive.”
For more on Distracted Driving:
- Employer Liability for Distracted Driving Accidents in Indiana or Illinois
- Distracted Driving Accidents: Proving Distraction Caused Crashes May Be Easier in Illinois With Textalyzer
- Distracted Drivers and Danger of Fatal Pedestrian Accidents in Parking Lots and Garages
- Distracted Driving Accidents: How Can Victims Prove that a Distracted Driver Caused the Crash?
Distracted driving remains a threat to everyone on our roadways, and the risk of a fatal accident remains high during the Coronavirus Pandemic given the confirmed higher death rate for traffic collisions during the first half of this year. Please be careful out there!
