Distractions inside our vehicles abound. More than 36,000 people died in car accidents in the U.S. in 2018. But did you know that getting behind the wheel is likely one of the most dangerous things you do? Based on your answers, we will calculate your free While you want to keep yourself busy and engaged while driving, you also want to be sure you don't become distracted. At 55 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour), a car can cover half the length of a football field in about 4 seconds. 10 Most Dangerous Distracted Driving Habits | RoadWarrior Whats more, theres a good chance that speeding wont actually save you any time. Putting On Makeup Everyone has seen this before, the woman who is in such a rush that she has to put eye liner and mascara on her face while driving whilst staring at herself in the mirror. Unsafe driving habits are potentially dangerous for everyone near a road, other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists everyone. She was critically injured and endured agonizing rehabilitation sessions to regain her speech and her ability to do just the simplest of tasks. Here are some other transportation options worth considering: Drowsy driving isnt safe. So what do you do? Attention is the biggest factor between arriving to your destination safely, and getting into an accident. From chomping on a hamburger to eating a bowl of cereal (seriously) while driving, this is one of the most common (and weirdest) things to do while . The same AT&T poll found that 17 percent of people say they have done this at least once. You can also do several things to reduce your risk of an accident. Here are the things you should NEVER do while driving. But can overindulging lead to a broken neck or worse? Confronting Drowsy Driving: The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Perspective. Drowsy driving is a major contributor to motor vehicle collisions. We only cite reputable sources when researching our guides and articles. Approach hotspots, like busy intersections, with extra caution and slow down when needed. Each guide and article includes a comprehensive bibliography with full citations and links to the original sources. 7. There is a reason you want to keep your hands in the 10-2 position as it allows for the most control. According to the NHTSA, speeding was a factor in 26% of all fatal crashes in 2019. Weve become such masters at task switching that we create the illusion of successfully doing two or more things simultaneously. NHTSA raises awareness of the dangers to pedestrians and provides tips to keep pedestrians safe. We will continue to stay open for your essential vehicle needs. Payment will be made within 28 days of your successful claim being submitted. With that in mind, here are some of the worst things that people do while driving. 8, as you may have guessed, are pets. A 2021 survey from The Zebra found that 52.5% of respondents reported eating while driving. Scott, L. D., Hwang, W. T., Rogers, A. E., Nysse, T., Dean, G. E., & Dinges, D. F. (2007). National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health. Trusted Source This can lead to accidents and even fatalities. Taking protective measures can make your driving safer for everyone. Next to kids, or perhaps in lieu of kids, pets are the collective apples of our eye. Some can affect your driving. Take control of your coverage and see what you can save today. AtAAMCO Colorado, we want people to be safe on the road. Drowsy driving significantly increases the risk of car accidents. Check your mirrors frequently, and identify potential hazards while you drive by scanning the road ahead. Speeding doesn't just mean exceeding the speed limit. 7. We are an essential business; you can come visit us! All rights reserved. You do not successfully complete the course prior to your court deadline (the course has a 99.99% success rate). You're eight times more likely to crash or nearly crash when dialing, a new study found. Over the long-term, good sleep is the best protection against drowsy driving. In fact, some insurance companies offer safe driver discounts to those with clean driving records (a record with no accidents or tickets). Pedestrian Safety: Prevent Pedestrian Crashes | NHTSA A 2013 study found that caffeine can even lower your risk of crashing on long drives. These 10 mattresses are some of the best for pressure point relief. But theres little arguing with the science on distracted driving. People of any age can give in to distractions while driving. Dont fall into the trap of thinking that, as long as you are not looking at it, it is ok to use your phone while driving. I take it every time I get a ticket. While this number might not seem that high, your own car maintenance practices can play a big part in keeping you from becoming a part of this statistic. Several steps can help avoid the dangers of drowsy driving. Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Be aware of your surroundings. Heres a stat thats nothing to LOL about youre 23 times more likely to crash if you text while driving [source:Distraction.gov]. 10 habit on our list of Most Dangerous Distracted Driving Habits, on the next page. Our courses offer the required 5 hour study time and a 1 hour break. It could be related to a medical condition, such as sleep apnea. A Profile With This Email Address Already Exists! Dont drink and drive! Tailgating also means that you have to brake and accelerate more, which will cost you more in gas. The risk of an accident while texting is 23 times greater than the risk when not driving distracted, according to a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study. If you absolutely need to be on the road, consider making a stop for coffee and moving around when you feel yourself getting sleepy. Even attending to the needs of children can be incredibly dangerous while driving. Remember, wearing your seat belt isnt just for youit protects the safety of the other passengers in your car as well. Always wear your seat beltit's the law in many states, and it could save your life. This data likely underestimates the impact of drowsy driving because its often impossible to definitively determine whether drowsy driving caused an accident, especially after fatal crashes. Attention Editors: Reprint our articles and illustrations in your own publication. Inaccurate or unverifiable information will be removed prior to publication. Taking care of your car makes you a safer driver and is a key component of preventing avoidable accidents. By law, our course length is 6 hours. https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data_statistics.html, https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drowsy-driving, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26414989/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23008180/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18246989/, How to Create the Ideal Bedroom Environment. These internal links are intended to improve ease of navigation across the site, and are never used as original sources for scientific data or information. National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information When sleepy, drivers have slower reaction times and are likely to fall asleep at the wheel. How to stay awake on the road: Tips to combat drowsy driving. How many times has your phone or CD case been wanted only to find out its deep in the back seat or lodged under a seat? Continue to the next page to see why some people cant seem to keep their eyes on the road. Whether its classical or country, funk or folk, mkina, or metal, music has been linked to mental alertness, which can help you stay focused on the road. Being aware of your surroundings makes you a safe driver for yourself and others. Theres nothing wrong with In-Car Entertainment (ICE) in and of itself. Tailgating also means that you have to brake and accelerate more, which will cost you more in gas. You dont want them in your lap when youre trying to get somewhere safely. Read our full, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of course, its not always convenient or safe to pull over and catch a few winks. Speeding Causes Most Accidents & Fatalities Did you know that driving too fast is linked to the majority of all traffic accidents? Nature, 388(6639), 235. Cars are designed with indicators for the purpose of making roads a safer place to be. Use of caffeinated substances and risk of crashes in long distance drivers of commercial vehicles: Case-control study. Your car will most likely get stuck, and you may have to wait a long time before receiving help (as well as pay for the damages to the vehicle). Persuasive Speech Essay - 1493 Words | Bartleby Drowsy driving may seem like a natural part of life for many of us who commute to work or drive for a living. But almost all of your attention is focused on whats being read, and thats even worse than texting. Download Your Certificate of Completion the moment you finish the course! Her team teaches parents ways to strengthen their childs motivation to drive more safely. But they know what its like to be alert without the aid of sound. The fact is driving a car equates to operating heavy machinery. Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3074345/, sleepfoundation.org/excessive-sleepiness/safety/how-stay-awake-road-tips-combat-drowsy-driving, researchgate.net/publication/259768725_A_Study_on_the_Effects_of_Fatigue_Driving_and_Drunk_Driving_on_Drivers'_Physical_Characteristics, What You Need to Know If You Have Panic Attacks While Driving, The 10 Best Mattresses for Pressure Point Relief of 2023, The Best Mattresses for People with Sciatica Pain in 2023, The Best Mattresses for Back and Neck Pain in 2023, The 6 Best Eucalyptus Sheets for 2023 What Our Testers Said, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, Sealy Posturepedic Review: How These Mattresses Perform and Compare. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2017 drowsy driving led to at least 91,000 crashes, resulting in roughly 50,000 injuries and By motivating their teens to engage in safe driving behaviors early on, parents can help teens establish safe driving habits that they carry into adulthood. The good news is that advances in car design and safety technology are helping protect you behind the wheel. If your car passes the object sooner, that means that youre too close to the car in front of you, and its time to slow down. Losing the struggle to stay awake: divergent thalamic and cortical activity during microsleeps. Teens are also prone to distraction, especially with friends in the car. First of all, its unlikely the makeup will be put on well so its a bit counterintuitive. If youre looking for more support than the average mattress can offer, we review Sealy Posturepedic mattresses that might be good options for you. Elsewhere, the hazard might be roadside bombshells like if you happen to be cruising through South Beach. While, arguably, our ancient hardwiring makes women better-suited to vehicular multitasking in the modern era, its dangerous to divide your attention (hence your reaction time) among multiple activities behind the wheel, no matter what your gender. 10 Most Annoying Things Bad Drivers Do, Ranked - HotCars Definition 1 / 39 Several NHTSA studies have estimated that drivers engage in potentially distracting secondary tasks approximately 30% of the time their cars are in motion. In fact, the exact opposite is called for. We go from mental shutdown to sensory overload with our next distraction. Try some of these strategies to keep yourself awake when you drive. For more safe driving tips, see the Wise Choices box. Your email address will not be published. Get the facts on how and why your, If you like sleeping on a rock-hard mattress, look no further. So be patient, plan ahead, and remember that youre sharing the road with others. What are the most dangerous things you've seen while driving? Experts advise watching for the signs that driving is getting unsafe, like getting lost on familiar routes, experiencing a near-miss, or receiving a traffic ticket. Schedule an Appointment for a Free Vehicle Courtesy Check at one of our many locations, or call us at 1-877-79-AAMCO (1-877-792-2626). Recent research suggests that: In 2011, 385 traffic fatalities (1% of all traffic fatalities and 12% of distracted driving fatalities) involved a driver using a cell phone. We will not be held accountable for any costs, fees or charges associated with late payment of your ticket/fine. We are a crucial business for day-to-day survival- short and long term. Breast Biopsy. These include peer-reviewed journals, government reports, academic and medical associations, and interviews with credentialed medical experts and practitioners. Sheriff Grady Judd is briefing the media regarding the arrests of twelve people in a family-run drug trafficking operation in Winter Haven called Operation Family Affair. 11 Crazy Things People Have Done While Driving Reader's Digest Editors Updated: Nov. 28, 2022 Being the multitaskers humans are, few people focus solely on driving when they're in the car. This is a common strategy used by long-haul drivers, especially people who drive tractor trailers across the country for as much as 12 to 15 hours in a single day. Peek-Asa C, Cavanaugh JE, Yang J, Chande V, Young T, Ramirez M. BMC Public Health. When you're driving in traffic, be extra cautious of other drivers who may not be paying attention, or those who may be attempting to enter the same lane as you from the other side. Its unsafe to drive too fast or too slowly. 15 Things You Should Never Do to Your Automatic & Manual Car But its also one of riskiest things you do every day. It should be said this is by no means scientific; it's a rundown of things actuaries don't think you ought to have in your hand (or mouth) when driving. Exit or pull off the road and rest until you are not feeling sleepy. Find more road trip tips in our spring break road trip article. Human brain mapping, 35(1), 257269. All but a small percentage (between 2 and 3 percent) of the population experience a noticeable decline in performance when they try to do two or more things at once [source: Watson and Strayer]. But when yourfiddling with your phone, not only is your attention elsewhere, but so are your eyes as well as your hands. Hands-free headsets appear to reduce the risk somewhat instead of both cognitive and manual impairment as you have with a handheld device, hands-free units only tie up your mental capabilities; in some jurisdictions, theyre mandatory for people who talk on the phone while they drive. For younger drivers, the car continues to serve as a social hub as it has for decades. Drowsy driving is every bit as dangerous as drunk driving. It reduced several key bodily functions necessary for safe driving, including: If you often find yourself drowsy while driving, you should consider talking with your doctor. The CDC notes that people who sleep six to seven hours a night are twice as likely to be involved in a sleep-related crash as those who sleep eight hours or more. Some guides and articles feature links to other relevant Sleep Foundation pages. Your email address will not be published. Solution: Eat before or after you get behind the wheel; to chow down during your drive places you and others at risk. Video: Why Driving With Hands At 10 And 2 Is Incorrect 2 - Never Drive With Two Feet The obvious exception to this rule is when driving a manual transmission vehicle. Situations may arise that require your focused attention, even on short drives. The last time I checked, children and dogs crossing the road dont come with hazard lights on them. If, in the event of running a red light, you also damage property, you can land one year in jail and pay almost a $10,000 fine. 10 Most Dangerous Things People Do While Driving You may have gotten away with eyebrow plucking on the interstate up until now, but just remember that its always a gamble. Learn more about our information disclaimer . Eating, playing with the radio, and adjusting your navigation system all distract from safe driving. Youve likely seen ads reminding you to keep your eyes on the road. 12 of the Weirdest (and Dangerous) Things People Do While Driving Reading while you drive turns a nicepeacefulride into a gauntlet of uncertainty and potential doom. Steering teens safe: a randomized trial of a parent-based intervention to improve safe teendriving. Staying alert is essential to safe driving. In our earliest days, the unusual could have represented an animal that wanted us for lunch or even a potential mate from another tribe who could diversify the genes of our offspring. Everything about the course is well explained. These distractions can wait until youve stopped driving. So while your attention is focused on that toned hardbody strutting along the sidewalk, theres plenty of time for a cell phone-occupied driver to cut in front of you without looking. National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information. In addition to sleep hygiene improvements, you should talk with a doctor if you have persistent or severe problems with falling or staying asleep or if you regularly have daytime sleepiness. If you are tempted to check your phone while driving, just remember that, in the time it takes to look at your phone, you travel the distance of a football field. And that can be dangerous, if we overestimate our powers of focus. Effects of a month-long napping regimen in older individuals. Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol NHTSA data paints a clear picture: drunk driving causes accidents. So be mindful so that you dont hurt an innocent person with poor decisions and habits. Privacy Policy. 2. failure to signal Our mission is to provide the best auto repair and maintenance in Colorado. Yang J, Campo S, Ramirez M, Krapfl JR, Cheng G, Peek-Asa C. J Pediatr Health Care. Its older drivers with visual and cognitive impairments that are at greatest risk. If its a snowy day, youre driving a heavy vehicle, or have a car full of people, consider giving yourself a few extra seconds of space. Do not check your phone 'Mythbuster's Kari Byron risking her life and the life of some other guy in the pursuit of science.
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most dangerous things to do while driving
