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President's Message
Tune in to What is Distracting YouWith people spending more and more
time in their vehicles, motorists are undertaking additional activities while driving in order to manage their busy lifestyles. Unfortunately, this can divert physical and mental attention away from the task of driving. It is believed that
distracted driving is a factor in approximately 25 to 50 percent of accidents.Phone calls, e-mails and letters we've received here at AAA Colorado indicate that distracted driving is a top issue on the minds of our members. With the volume of traffic in Colorado reaching record levels, safety on the road has become critical. Several recent studies have uncovered some interesting data on this issue.
According to a survey completed last summer by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS), the top five distractions listed by drivers included: talking to passengers, adjusting controls, eating or reading, picking up something that fell and talking on the phone. Respondents to this survey listed distracted driving as the fourth most serious driving safety issue-behind drunk driving, aggressive driving and speeding, and they ranked it as more serious than running red lights.
Last fall, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted a poll on its Web site to compare the model year of respondent's cars with the number of buttons on their radios. According to the poll, 70 percent of vehicles manufactured before 1990 had fewer than 11 buttons to control the sound system, while 65 percent of 2001 vehicles 2001 had more than 11 buttons. While not completely scientific, this does provide additional data that should be considered. The survey suggests that radios are getting more complicated, taking drivers' attention away from the road.
Since driver distraction is a major cause of crashes, it is important to understand what the types of distractions are, so drivers can recognize their own warning signs, and practice techniques to manage those potential distractions.
So tune in to what's distracting you when you drive. Understanding our abilities and limitations to driving distractions plays a vital role in avoiding life-threatening accidents on the roadway.
by Tony DeNovellis, President and CEO
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