Reflections on the Way to Work

April 2014 came and went with little publicity that it was Distracted Driving Awareness Month. While there was much going on in the world during the month of April that took the media away from focusing on it, that, in my opinion was no excuse for others, in particular corporate entities from focusing on the topic and running campaigns to raise the awareness of distracted driving. Unfortunately, from my perspective, they fell short on their social responsibility to raise awareness, in particular on texting and driving.

One evening my sister and I were driving north on a two-lane road with no streetlights. In front of us was a car that was all over the road, going into the lane of the on-coming traffic and then veering onto the other side of the street. At first we thought the driver was under the influence of alcohol but then during the course of 5 miles, a pattern of driving emerged that evidenced it most likely was not alcohol but texting. During the intervals the driver was texting, the car was all over the road, then when the texting stopped, there was focused driving. It was obvious that each time the driver read a return text and responded, the erratic driving started. We kept our distance but quite frankly the on-coming traffic was at risk because the driver was going at a fast paced and on blind curves was migrating to the opposite lane putting innocent lives at risk.

While distraction comes in many forms when driving, for me, texting or using a smartphone while driving is particularly irritating probably because this form of distracted driving is so visible to others. You see them clearly with their handheld device texting. It is so offensive because of the selfishness and lack of respect the driver has for others and because they lack a recognition or acknowledgement that their behavior puts others in danger. This reflection will focus on distracted driving as it relates primarily to texting and driving.

Distraction.gov is the official US Government website for distracted driving in the US. As a person who travels the globe, my observation is that it is not a unique problem to the U.S. I will begin with some basics on distracted driving as outlined by the distraction.gov website. “Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. Distracted driving includes but is not limited to texting, using a cell phone or smartphone, and watching a video, however, texting requires the visual, manual and cognitive attention of the driver that it causes the most alarming distraction.”[1]

In 2012, the number of people killed in accidents caused by distracted driving were 3,328 and 421,000 were injured. While many of the statistics indicate that drivers under the age of 20 have the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted, with 27% of them in fatal crashes. My personal experience is that there is an equal amount of drivers in the 20-60 age group range that are texting and driving. I suspect that the statistics are much higher than those being reported.

It is estimated that five seconds is the average time one’s eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55 mph, that is enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. Try blindfolding yourself and walking a straight line; you will see that you will be all over the line. Now, imagine doing that driving 55 mph on a highway, 35 mph on a busy 4-lane street or a 2-lane road.

The problem with distracted driving is that many people think that they can multi-task while driving, one eye on the road, one eye on the screen, one hand on the wheel and one hand texting. It doesn’t work; the reality is that you are not focused on the road or your surroundings. It turns the car into a lethal weapon.

Given the extensiveness with which people are texting and driving while on the highway, I decided to start my own personal campaign to try and stop it by designing bumper stickers. My objective is that if people are texting and driving and they see a bumper sticker in front of them reminding them of the danger, it will inspire them to immediately stop texting and driving. The jury is still out as to whether my campaign will be successful. Some people see it and stop, others continue on with disregard to the danger they are putting others in. It is obvious the intended message does not resonate with them. Maybe it goes to a deeper societal issue of the lack of respect people have for each other, in particular on the road.

Quite frankly it amazes me that cars manufacturers are now selling cars that have “Wi-Fi”, this will only increase the number of people that will be texting and driving or surfing the Internet and driving. I personally find it irresponsible and I question why regulation is not prohibiting this. While I appreciate that it might be for the passengers or for when a driver is pulled over and stopped, the reality is that it creates an added temptation to a driver to have another opportunity to be distracted while driving. I am also amazed that insurance companies, manufacturers of smartphones, and mobile service providers do not take a more active role in campaigning against texting and driving and coming up with more technological solutions to prevent such behaviors for drivers of all ages, not just teenagers. How many innocent lives need to be lost and others permanently injured because of an individual texting and driving or surfing the internet and driving before more action is taken to prevent this behavior.

In the end, irrespective of regulation, reflections or research, the reality is that it starts with an individual’s personal responsibility to recognize and understand that there are risks in texting or surfing the Internet while driving. Individuals must ask themselves how important is that message they are receiving or sending that it can’t wait until they are out of their car to read or send it. How important is something on the Internet that they need to read it while driving? If it is that important or timely, a person should pull off the road, take care of their business and when it is complete, get back on the road again.

When I was in high school I had a theology teacher, Mr. Michael Abruzzo who was into Zen meditation. He used to emphasize how important it was to be “present to the moment.” When I look at people texting and driving I am reminded of Mr. Abruzzo because drivers are not being “present to the moment” and focusing on their driving.   Sometimes I am stopped at a light and I look at the person behind me and they are texting, the light turns green, they are oblivious to their surroundings, traffic begins to move all around them and there they stand stopped in their own world continuing to text. Texting even while stopped at a red light creates a dangerous situation for other drivers.

In 2008 there was a movie, Seven Pounds. I do not remember it being a particularly popular movie. Perhaps it was ahead of its time. It is a very powerful movie about a professional man driving with his fiancée and he “needs” to send one last text message while driving before signing off. As a result of his “one last text” he needed to send, his distracted driving causes him to veer across the centerline into on-coming traffic causing a multi-car crash killing seven innocent people, six strangers and his fiancée. The rest of the movie is about his efforts to atone for the deaths he caused by his texting and driving. It is a very powerful movie and I strongly recommend people to watch it and recommend others to watch it, in particular if they text and drive. To me, the movie speaks louder than any reflection I write on the topic or report that is posted to the distraction.gov website.

It is easy to think that I am only sending this one quick text, I am driving slow, there is no traffic…….the reality is that it doesn’t matter. It is worth repeating – sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4-6 seconds, the equivalent of driving at 55mph, the length of an entire football field, blind.

While much progress has been made in the fight to end distracted driving, in the end it is the responsibility of each individual driver to put their wireless devices away while driving and stay present to the moment and focused on the task in front of them, which is driving safely and being attentive to the road and their surroundings. If, as an individual, you do not value your own life as evidenced by your own texting and driving, then please stop and think about others on the road and have respect for them. Innocent people should not die at the hands of someone else’s texting or surfing the Internet and driving.

If you are driving with someone and they are texting and driving with you in the car, whether it is a taxi driver, friend or family member, be courageous and speak up and ask them to stop texting or surfing the Internet while driving. It they are truly your friend or loved one, they should understand and stop. If it is a taxi driver, they have a professional obligation to not text and drive. Besides, it is your life that is at risk. If you love life, speak up for yourself. Your life is worth it.

As distraction.gov published in a research report, “distracted driving does not just happen – it is a choice”. If you drive and text, please stop; if you know or see someone driving and texting, be an influencer and a leader – ask them to stop; A reduction in driver distraction will save lives and prevent others from being injured.

Join the challenge, be an advocate in the campaign and start spreading the word to stop texting or surfing the Internet while driving.

Thank you…… Drive Safely and Remember…….  

[1] Quoted in part from the distraction.gov website and Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving NHTSA 2013; Statistics in reflection are from the same sources.

No reprints or reproductions without the express, written pre-authorization of Janet@ReflectionsOnTheWaytoWork.com © Janet@RelectionsOnTheWaytoWork.com; Publication Date: September 6, 2014.