Distracting activities while driving double the risk of crashing

News and Information related to Distracted Driving
MSI
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Distracting activities while driving double the risk of crashing

Post by MSI »

Jan 25, 2016: A new Virginia Tech research report "Driver crash risk factors and prevalence evaluation using naturalistic driving data", published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that when drivers engaged in distracting activities -- including crying, reaching for objects and interacting with others in the car -- they more than doubled their risk of crashing.
For the study, the researchers used the Transportation Institute's naturalistic driving method, which uses technology -- including radars, sensors and cameras -- that is put in vehicles to collect real-world data and analyze drivers performance on the road.
Aside from using a cell phone while driving, here are some of the other distractions that were found to greatly increase crash risk:
  • Reading or writing
  • Reaching for an object other than a phone
  • Using a touchscreen on a GPS or other vehicle technology
  • Driving while angry, sad, crying or highly emotional
  • Fatigue
  • Interacting with an adult or teen passenger