Presentation 2

By Mark Corpuz

Reference # 8

Driving Distracted:  Theory and Facts (2002)

www.drdriving.org/articles/distracted.htm

Instructions Click Here

• Multi Tasking
  • Concept:  Doing more than one thing at a time; focusing more while driving, doing something else while driving

     

    • EX:  While driving you talk on your cell phone, function the stereo, put on make up, eat your meal, etc.  While doing any of these you become distracted from driving.  As the result of being distracted you have a high chance in getting into a fatal accident.  According to Joseph Tessmer, NHTSA statistician, it is estimated that 20%-30% of fatal accidents are due to distractions while driving.

       

  • Cultural:  Technology has increased dramatically.  As a result there are more gadgets that can be installed into vehicles.  With the new gadgets, people are not trained properly to use them which lead them to be distracted more.  People also find it okay to multi task while driving because of what they see.  They watch TV shows and movies and see everyone multi task while driving and they never see them get into any sort of accident.  So it is accepted.

     

  • Psychological:  People don’t realize that training is needed to multi task.  They automatically think that they are able to multi task without training.  Also, people get bored while driving especially in traffic.  So, why not do something else to kill time while driving.

     

  • Driver’s Education:  It’s not that multi tasking is the problem…it’s the fact that people are not TRAINED properly to multi task.  If people are just trained to be familiar with the technology that they use then they would not be distracted from driving.  For example, police officers are able to multi task because they are trained to do so.  They can be on the radio, on the computer, and scanning the area while in high speed.  They do get into accidents…but not that often because they have been trained to multi task and they do it on a daily basis.

• Cell Phone Use Can Impair Vision While Driving
  • Concept:  Using cell phones while driving causes a decrease in the ability to process peripheral vision creating a “tunnel vision”.  This causes reaction time to decrease 20%.  This study focused mostly on conversations that cause distraction more so than dialing or holding the phone.

     

    • EX:  While on the phone with someone and the conversation becomes very interesting, you really get into it listening to every word that is said.  At the same time you are not focused on your surroundings, only what you see in front of you.  You then miss things like people swerving in front of you or sudden lane changes.  You’re peripheral vision is altered because your mind is somewhere else.

       

  • Cultural:  It is accepted that using the phone while driving is okay.  In fact, products are manufactured to help you use your cell phone while driving.  The reason while cell phones were made in the first place was to enable people to talk on the phone WHERE EVER you are.

     

  • Psychological:  People don’t see the dangers of using the cell phone while driving.  They don’t realize that conversing with someone on the phone distracts them from the road.  People think that using a handset will keep them from getting distracted, but once you are into a conversation…you are in a different place because your mind is focused on what is being said.

     

  • Driver’s Education:  As mentioned earlier, people need to be trained properly.  People also have to know that it is the conversations that distract them from driving and not so much the dialing or holding of the handset.  People need to witness it for themselves how distracting it is to be on the cell phone.  Maybe they can participate in studies like the Utah studies to prove how distracting cell phone usage while driving is.

     

• The New Curse:  Cell-Phone Rage
  • Concept:  People are getting fed up with cell phones.  The fact that everyone has one cause other’s to be annoyed.  People do not have proper cell phone etiquette.

     

    • EX:  You are sitting in lecture and you hear someone’s phone go off, it’s a nice little tune, you excuse it because you think it is a mistake that the person forgot to turn off the ringer.  But then, the person answers the phone and starts talking while the lecture continues.  So you become upset because the ringer interrupted your concentration and that the person had the nerve to answer the phone and distract others even more.

       

  • Cultural:  Cell phones are a part of society now.  Everyone has one.  The fact that everyone has a cell phone, they tend to personalize there phones to feel different.  They change the covers, the color, the lights, and the ringers.  

     

  • Psychological:  People don’t realize that they irritate others when their phone goes off in inappropriate places.  It is an automatic response for people to answer their phones when it rings.  The fact that everyone has cell phones causes everyone to personalize their phones.  Everyone has different personalities so that reflects on what kind of ring tones they like.  To them, they feel it is the coolest sound ever and that it matches them, but others may find it the most annoying sound in the world.

     

  • Driver’s Education:  This is related to driving because people need to learn proper cell phone etiquette.  People shouldn’t be using their phones in certain places like museums, classes, etc.  They shouldn’t use phones while driving too unless trained.  So for education, people need to learn proper cell phone etiquette as well as learn how to multi task while driving.  That way everyone will be able to live with cell phones.

     

• A Nationwide Survey of Red Light Running
  • Concept:  It is a research that was conducted summer of 1999.  They used telephone survey to collect data from 880 licensed drivers from each of the 50 states and at least 18 years old.  This program was an effort to increase driver awareness of the dangers and consequences of running red lights.

     

    • EX:  They would categorize the data by gender, parental status, age, education, occupation, and urban size.  Overall, 55.8% reported running red lights; 19.4% ran at least 1 red light in the past 10 intersections with traffic lights.

       

  • Cultural:  65.1% of men admitted to running red lights/50.1% of women;  52.8% of parents admitted/65% non parents;  74.7% 18-25/72.7% 26-35/62.9% 36-45/55.9% 46-55/35.3% over 55;  more education = more likely to admit running red light;  68.8% unemployed reported most

  • Psychological:  34.9% reported being in a rush;  11.8% reported being frustrated;  43.5% reported discourtesy of other drivers;  20.8% reported congestion; 12.7% reported other drivers not following the law

     

  • Driver’s Education:  People should me informed on how dangerous it is to run red lights.  They should be shown certain incidents of accidents where people crashed due to running red lights.  Also, people should be taught how to control feelings of being rushed and frustrated.  Because if they can control both they can reduce the chances of running the red light.

     

• Drowsy Drivers Endanger Public Health
  • Concept:  Drivers susceptible to car crashes due to drowsiness behind the wheel.

     

    • EX:  Sleep deprived or who worked all day, drive long distances with no resting, drive during the night when they normally would be asleep, take medication that causes drowsiness, drive after drinking, drive alone, or travelers

       

  • Cultural:  Some people are forced to work long hours and spend lots of time on the road in traffic.  Others may only be able to get jobs that are at night.  For people who drive after drinking, it is viewed as okay because they see it all the time when they go out.  

     

  • Psychological:  People don’t realize they are too tired to drive.  In their mind all they want to do is get where they have to go, especially if they’re tired.  But the down fall is that drowsiness causes reaction time to decrease.  You also lose focus in what you are doing in the first place.  The thought of being tired and drowsy also causes people to rush home quicker so they don’t have to be on the road feeling that way.  Although, that is a bad combination…rushing home while drowsy.

     

  • Driver’s Education:  People need to learn how to put themselves in check.  Learn to determine whether or not they are suitable to drive.  If they must drive, they should learn ways to keep themselves up.  For example, rolling down the window, turning up the radio, or even drinking some coffee.  And if worse comes to worse, they should learn to accept their condition and pull over to the side so not to endanger their life or the life of others.