Dangers of Distracted Driving

The dangers of distracted driving are real

Distracted driving is one of the major causes of motor vehicle collisions today. According to Distraction.gov, over 3,000 motorists are killed and another 421,000 are injured each year as a result of distracted driving collisions. It's estimated that distracted drivers are three times more likely to have a collision.

We all share the roadways and collectively we can create a safer driving culture for ourselves and the generations that follow. Please take some time to explore the information below and pass it along to those closest to you.

The facts

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger and bystander safety. These distractions can include texting, using a cell phone, eating, drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading, using a navigation system, watching a video, and adjusting a radio, CD player or MP3 player.

Driving is a complex task that requires one's eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and brain focused on the task at hand. According to the National Safety Council, drivers engaged in cell phone conversations, with either hand-held or hands-free devices, can fail to see up to 50 percent of their driving environment, including stop signs, pedestrians and red lights.

Did you know?

• Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field blind, if traveling at 55 mph.

• Using a cell phone while driving, whether it's hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration of .08, which is legally impaired.

• Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent.

Do your part

Pledge to drive distraction-free on the National Safety Council's website. Pledging means you will refrain from having a phone conversation or texting while driving your vehicle.

Take action

There are several mobile applications designed to help eliminate or minimize phone usage while driving. Some popular apps include:

• AT&T DriveMode (iPhone & Android)

• Canary (iPhone & Android)

• DriveSafe.ly (Android & Blackberry)

• LifeSaver (iPhone & Android)

• Live2Txt (Android)

Learn more

For more information on distracted driving, check out the following resources:

• AT&T documentary "The Last Text"

• Distraction.gov

• National Safety Council

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