Distracted driving is defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as any activity that could take away a person’s attention from the primary job of driving. It involves more than just talking on a cell phone and texting. Distracted driving also involves eating, smoking, drinking, interacting with passengers, watching a video and more.
Types Of Distractions
The three main type of distractions when driving are classified as cognitive, manual and visual. When a driver’s mind is focused on something other than driving, it is considered a cognitive distraction. This is when a person is thinking about home or work issues and more. Their mind is not on the task of driving a vehicle. A driver who moves their hands away from controlling a vehicle is considered a manual distraction. This could involve trying to use a computer, reaching for food and other things that take physical effort. A visual distraction is when a driver looks away from the road for a period of time. This could involve noticing something in their vehicle, looking at a video or anything that gets their eyes from focusing on the road.
Tennessee Law
In the state of Tennessee, a primary law is one where a law enforcement officer can write a ticket for an offense without a traffic violation having occurred. There is a ban on all cellphone use for bus drivers. This includes both hands-free and handheld cell phones. There is also a ban on texting for drivers of any age. There is a ban on cell phone use for novice drivers. These are drivers of all ages who have an intermediate license or a learner’s permit. All of these are considered part of primary law. A driver can be fined $50 for texting and driving. An individual will only get points placed on their license for texting if they also commit an additional traffic violation.
Tennessee Distracted Driving
According to the NHTSA, cell phone use and other forms of distracted driving contributed to over 10.5 percent of fatal crashes in Tennessee. This rate is approximately ten times the national average. In just the county of Davidson, there have been a number of years where over 1,000 annual vehicle crashes were attributed to distracted driving.
Dangerous
The University of Utah did research showing that use of a cell phone quadruples a person’s risk of an accident. The chances of getting into an accident actually increase to eight times normal when a driver is texting. A study was conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which analyzed commercial vehicle crashes. It concluded the risk of a crash is 23 times greater when a commercial vehicle driver is texting. The act of sending or receiving a text message will distract a driver for five seconds or more. This means a driver will not be in control of their vehicle for a distance of approximately 300 feet or longer.
Safe Driving
It is essential a person try and avoid all distractions when driving. This may take effort for most drivers. Developing a habit of focusing on driving and nothing else is essential. A person who is a passenger can also help a driver avoid distracted driving. They can remind the driver not to text, talk on the cell phone and more. If the person refuses to stop engaging in risky distracted driving behavior, a passenger may want to get out of the car.
