Distractions while Driving
As you start to learn the basics of driving, you may find that it can be overwhelming with all the traffic rules and vehicle features. This is why it is important to always maintain 100% concentration when on the road. However, in our technological world, distractions can make the already complex task of driving more difficult and dangerous.
Starter: Distractions video:
Reflection:
1. What is the message of mobile phone usage while driving?
2. Why do you think using your phone while driving is the same as driving 'blind'?
What are the Distractions, and the effects of them on Driving
Mobile phones are the main form of distraction during driving. This is mainly through the form of texting, sending emails and even listening to music, and it takes the driver’s attention away from the road. According to the Australian Automobile Association, 2022, distracted drivers “contribute to 16% of road fatalities”.
In fact, did you know that the most affected group of texting while driving is ages 15 – 19 years?
This is because teenagers use their mobile devices daily, due to schoolwork, social connections and entertainment. This makes them more likely to use them while driving, as they message friends, watch videos for entertainment, or check social media posts. Mobile devices therefore distract young drivers like you especially, by impairing the 3 core points of concentration:
Visual – Every time you look at your phone, your eyes are not concentrating on the road anymore. This is very crucial as you can miss important points of hazard, such as traffic lights, pedestrians and other vehicles.
The table below shows the hazard of this using distance and time for a measure. It demonstrates that losing focus for even 2 seconds can lead to a fatal collision. This especially affects young drivers as their inexperience means that they are prone to distractions.
Manual – Manual distraction is whenever you take of your hand/s from the steering wheel. This is most common when teens are changing their playlists or replying to text messages. This is extremely dangerous as the car can veer off the road due to the lack of control, causing a single or multiple vehicle collision.
Cognitive – Cognitive distractions are when you are not focussed on driving and thinking about something else. For teens, the main form of this is thinking about how to reply to a text. This can reduce the driver’s reaction time, resulting in poor judgments being made regarding road conditions. This essentially creates ‘blind spots’, resulting in crashes as the driver is unable to properly respond to dangers.
By affecting these 3 crucial points of focus, it has been proved that texting while driving leads to accidents. This is because it breaks the concentration of the driver, as this distraction leads to poor judgement, unawareness of road conditions and loss of control, leading to fatal accidents that affect you and others.
Not only you, the driver faces danger, but you also put passangers, pedestrians, friends and families in a critical situtation. To avoid causing harm to them, DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE.
REAL EVENT: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-06/texting-driver-found-guilty-of-causing-death/10210338
This was a fatal accident caused by texting and driving. In 2016, Aine McGrath was found guilty of texting and driving, killed her friend Sarah Kelly. These are some photos:
As you can see, not only did she crash her car, she also killed her friend and posed as a threat to other drivers on the highway. Aine McGrath was sentenced in October 2018.
This was the last text Aine McGrath engaged in before she lost control of the car and veered into the 4 lanes.
Other COMMON DISTRACTIONS:
Texting while driving is not the only distraction on the road. Here are two common ones as well:
1.Passengers - Passengers, especially for learner drivers can be a major distraction. Drivers may engage in a conversion, be preoccupied by the passenger’s actions, and also be affected by their boisterous behaviour. This can break the driver’s concentration and lead to accidents.
2.Eating and drinking while driving - While it may seem trivial at first (given the cup holders next to the driver), eating/drinking engages the cognitive, manual and visual senses of the driver. They therefore become unaware of the road situation and risk breaking rules or crashing.
Overall, these activities pose risk especially to learner teenage drivers as they distract all 3 aspects of focus, which can overwhelm the driver as their brains have not full developed yet. This is because, according to the National Library of Medicine, the brain does not fully develop until the age of 25. Because of this, even minor distractions can cause the teen driver to crash, due to inexperience and poor judgement skills of dangers ahead of the road.
Are you a distracted Driver?
Play this game created by Toyota to test your concentration!
Reflection
1. Was it difficult to dodge to obstacles?
2.What does this imply about distractions and driving?
3.What lesson have you learnt from this game and how will you contribute to safe driving?
HOW TO KEEP YOURSELF AND OTHERS SAFE
Here are some tips to prevent distractions:
1. Put your phone away! - Seriously, you tech addicted teens, keep your phones out of sight. A great place is putting it in the glove box.
2. Dont eat - Don't eat while driving, it has the same effects as texting while driving, only you will make an extra mess.
3. Choose the right passengers - Learners and provisional drivers should avoid driving many friends around. They can be a source of distraction and risk taking. Instead, have a trusted adult or parent with you.
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