It seems with the ever increasing amount of drivers on the roads these days that more and more are distracted drivers.
Statistics say that most accidents are caused by drivers who are distracted. According to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation:
Key Facts and Statistics
* In 2010, 3092 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver and an estimated additional 416,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.
* 18% of injury crashes in 2010 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.
* In the month of June 2011, more than 196 billion text messages were sent or received in the US, up nearly 50% from June 2009. (CTIA)
* 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.
* 40% of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger.
Some driving distractions include:
* Cell phones
* Eating and drinking while driving.
* Messing with the radio, CD's, or GPS system
* Talking to passengers and not paying attention to the road.
* Driving too fast for conditions.
* Mind on other things other than driving.
* Lap-pets . . . animals sitting in the drivers lap. I've seen this sooooo many times where little Fluffy is sitting on the drivers lap, or hanging out the drivers window, not only obscuring the drivers vision, but also getting in the way of the steering wheel.
As a parent of a new driver, I will drum into our sons head a gazillion times . . . pay attention to the road when you're driving!
We had a lady come to our house one time with a huge gash down the side of her van as she had sideswiped our mailbox while reaching into the back seat to mess with the kids.
Just recently, one of our own forum members vehicle was rear-ended, by no doubt, a driver who wasn't paying attention that traffic was stopped in front of him.
The average vehicle weighs 3,000 - 4,500 pounds. A heavy lethal weapon on wheels!!
Please, don't become a statistic yourself or hurt and possibly kill an innocent person by driving distracted. If you KNOW you're mind is not on driving - don't drive. The life you save could be your very own!
Bucky
Hi Bucky,
You've hit on one of my pet peeves. And even though we are not permitted to talk on our cell phones here while driving, I see it all the time.
Last week we had a near fatal event on a street not too far from my home. Four children were crossing legally on a cross walk , four lanes of traffic, lights flashing. A man who was sitting in his Hummer at the cross walk observed a car speeding in the lane next to him, fast approaching the cross walk. This man in the Hummer, acting in a split second, drove his vehicle across the lane to protect the kids. The car slammed into the SUV but the kids were saved. I still cringe at what might have happened. :(
Oh yeah. The driver of the car was talking on his cell phone...and speeding. >:(
Bucky
Yes, this is one of my gripes too. I've seen
men shaving while driving
women doing makeup
a person driving with a child in his lap
That's as well as the phone users, people with music on so loud their car vibrates, and people with windscreens so dark, they must be illegal.
Makes you wonder how we ever get from A-B in one piece, doesn't it?
Kathyx
I drive as if everyone on the road is drunk, stoned and out to get me. And on the phone. I never believe turn signals, and often hit my emergency flashers when people get too close to me tailgating; if necessary I start flashing my brake lights. As a last resort I roll down my window and point out the vacant lane next to me. At that point I actually get their attention.
Sigh.
Sharon
All of the above, PLUS............for heaven's sake people in the front seat conversing, the driver does not have to LOOK AT THE PERSON THEY ARE TALKING TO. If I am the driver, I do not take my eyes off the road to address the passenger. Almost everyone does this and I just get crazy being behind some dud doing exactly this. Going 12 mph and I'm behind so I can tell they have their head turned towards the passenger and Not on the road.
Lucy
ps just a fyi---------I don't text, so I don't text and drive. lol. I don't use my phone except maybe once a month and I cannot use it and drive. duh. I pull into a parking lot first.
Just the other day I was driving to work and on a highway passing a semi truck. The driver was actually brushing his teeth while driving! I've seen some wild things while driving, but this was a first! I yiyiyiyiyiyiy!
Eyesamdry, if the driver is hard of hearing, they will be busy speechreading the passenger. They should use an assistive listening device so that they don't need to, though.
What is really scary is watching two Deaf people driving and riding.
Sharon
The funniest thing I ever saw while driving -- and I think I've actually mentioned it here on the forum before -- was a guy driving a convertable while playing the trumpet.
(I'm glad it wasn't a trombone -- or other two-handed instrument!)
Quote from: A66eyroad on September 13, 2012, 08:26:41 AM
The funniest thing I ever saw while driving -- and I think I've actually mentioned it here on the forum before -- was a guy driving a convertable while playing the trumpet.
A great way to get rid of one's teeth in a case of a crash...
Similar things go on in Finland, too. I drive to work via motorway where the speed limit in the summer is 120 km/h. I've seen people put on make-up while driving (wondering how they get the mascara where it should go instead of IN the eyes...?), talking over the phone, writing on a notebook... Once there was a car where the passenger and the driver were fiercely discussing - in sign language!
But the "best" in my opinion was the newspaper that was opened on the wheel, in full speed and then some.