This is becoming a pandemic. Despite efforts by auto makers to integrate things and make it easy to use the vehicle’s controls without looking at them, people are going in the opposite direction, and getting more and more distracted. I think part of the problem is how much driving has become a part of life, and how used to it we are. We think we can do anything driving we could if we were in our house or office. We’ve lost sight of the fact that driving is actually a very intensive activity and requires total consentration and use of all of our senses.
It used to be that the worst distraction was the person sitting next to you, or driving while intoxicated. But get this, tests have shown that your likelihood of getting into an accident while talking HANDS FREE are about the same as driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 – a level that will get you a DUI here in California. And that is about the least distractive thing we do in our vehicles. Taken to the extreme, we have texting while driving. And don’t think typing is the only part that is dangerous, even reading them is ultra-hazardous.
My recommendation? Without being a hypocrit, I’d say turn your text and email notifications off either before you get in the car, or before you take off. And if you don’t have hands free (corded headset, Bluetooth, or vehicle integration), GET IT. Every phone comes with a corded headset, so there really are no excuses. Don’t read anything in the car that takes more than a fraction of a second to read, such as the radio station (OK) – reading your pre-meeting notes – NOT OK. Last minute studying for a test you’re on your way to… NOT OK. Sounds absurd to some who are reading this, to you, I thank you… but to those who are scoffing… you had better take this more seriously because you’re not only risking your life, but mine, my beautiful daughter’s, that mother and newborn on the way home from the hospital… and endless other possibilities.
Check out this video:
