We’ve all done it…driving while distracted.

Kyle Bachus — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:49:10 GMT

Cell phones, babies crying, eating, drinking, gawking at the accident on the other side of the highway, putting on make up, shaving, changing the radio station or CD, a gabby passenger, reaching for something that slipped off the seat, lighting a cigarette and even reading! We’ve all engaged in some sort of distracting activity while driving.

It only takes a split second for a crash to occur and when you’re not paying attention that split second of distraction can be catastrophic.

A study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that every driver is driving while distracted some of the time. The study also indicates that distractions are an every day occurrence for the drivers in the study.

Consider this breakdown of the most common distracting activities while driving.

% of Subjects % of Total Time

Reaching, leaning, etc	97.1	3.8
Manipulating music/audio controls	91.4	1.4
Eating, drinking, etc.	71.4	4.6
Conversing	77.1	15.3
Grooming	45.7	0.3
Passenger	44.4	0.9
Reading or writing	40.0	0.7
Using cell phone	30.0	1.3
Smoking	7.1	1.6

Most drivers don’t even realize that they engage in these distractions, it’s just a part of driving. But these distracting activities contribute to about twenty-five percent of all traffic crashes or 1.2 million incidents.

So, let’s try to pay attention the next time we’re behind the wheel…you never know if the driver in the next lane is distracted until it’s too late.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Kyle Bachus

Fort Collins Personal Injury Lawyer - AAA

We’ve all done it…driving while distracted.