• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Auto Trends Magazine

Car reviews, industry news, & advice.

Archives for March 18, 2013

Entirely Morbid: The CDC Distracted Driving Study

March 18, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

Distracted Driving

distracted driving
Distracted driving hastens your eventual trip to the morgue.

Distracted driving remains a significant problem, one that accounted for an estimated 3,311 of the 32,367 traffic fatalities in 2011 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Such distractions are attributed to a number of factors including texting and reading email while driving, occurrences that were tracked by the federal government for the first time beginning in 2010.

Though the overall traffic fatalities death rate continues to fall, death by distracted driving rose by 1.9 percent over 2010. Data for 2012 is expected to be released later this year.

CDC Weekly Report

girl on cellphoneThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently conducted its own study of distracted driving and published that information in its appropriately named Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released this month. That study looked at two areas of distracted driving:

1) cell phone use while driving; and

2) reading or sending text or e-mail messages while driving.

The CDC surveyed US drivers aged 18 to 64, and compared American driving habits with a corresponding demographic in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. European data was pulled from 2011 EuroPNStyles and HealthStyles surveys.

Driven to Distraction

What the CDC discovered was startling including:

  • 69 percent of U.S. drivers talked on their cell phone while driving within the 30 days before they were surveyed. In the UK, some 21 percent admitted to doing the same.
  • 31 percent of American drivers reported that they had read or sent text messages or emails while driving. In Spain, 15 percent of drivers reported engaging in the same behavior.
  • There is virtually no gender gap in the US when it comes to distracted driving, with both sexes just as likely to engage in potentially deadly behavior.
  • Young people, including drivers that grew up in the digital age, are more likely to drive distracted than more mature individuals. A higher percentage of people aged 25 to 44 have admitted talking on a cell phone while driving than drivers aged 55 to 64. Among the youngest group, 18 to 34 year olds, emailing and texting while driving outpaced drivers aged 45 on up.

Safety Advocate

GPS DriverMelanie Batenchuk, vice president at the BeeKeeper Group, editor of BeCarChic.com and president of the Washington Automotive Press Association weighed in following the reports release. Ms. Batenchuk has been a leading advocate for speaking out against distracted driving, by highlighting the risks to drivers, passengers and pedestrians all.

Said Batenchuk, We have become so accustomed to holding our mobile devices in our hands while doing everything else that using it while driving is almost second nature. We must resist the temptation and challenge ourselves to put the device aside and focus on the drive. That is precisely what the Distraction Free Fridays campaign focuses on – encouraging others to commit to driving without using their mobile devices one day a week. By consciously setting aside one day to drive distraction-free, it makes it easier to say, ‘no’ to those demanding buzzes and pings more often. Batenchuk and Carlos Beltrán coordinate DFF, placing special emphasis on April as part of a Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign.

Car manufacturers, federal and state governments, mobile phone manufacturers, wireless carriers an industry advocates have teamed up to, implement common-sense solutions that help to keep drivers out of harm’s way, said Batenchuk who also noted how mainstream these devices have become in just the past 10 years. One of the solutions is handsfree integration of cell phones with vehicle infotainment systems, technologies that are now available in mostly every model built today.

At the wheel.
Keep both eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

Young Drivers Targeted

The CDC notes that a variety of strategies have been used to combat distracted driving in the US and elsewhere with driver education, legislation, technology and communication campaigns each playing a part. Young drivers, given their increased vulnerability, are particularly targeted in the US with 33 states and the District of Columbia now restricting them from cell phone use while driving. Parents, of course, can play a significant role in helping to curb distracted driving with the CDC encouraging families to implement a parent-teen driving agreement in a bid to keep youngsters safe.

There are other ways that policy makers are seeking to save lives. The NHTSA has teamed up with the Ad Council to run TV spots, including one that shows the average texting based distraction is five seconds, or enough time to cover the length of a football field when traveling at 55 mph.


See Also — Solving the Distracted Driving Problem

Photos procured from Wikipedia. All rights reserved.

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: AD COUNCIL, BECARCHIC.COM, CAR SAFETY, CDC, DISTRACTED DRIVING, MELANIE BATENCHUK, NHTSA, TRAFFIC FATALITIES, WAPA

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • A Look Back at the Chevrolet Monza
  • The Best Ways to Care for Your Tires
  • Contrary to the Latest Rumors, the Ram Dakota Will Return (Maybe)
  • Highlights of the 2021 Cadillac CT4
  • What is Bidirectional Charging?

Recent Comments

  • Winter Prep: Replace Your Worn Out Tires — Auto Trends Magazine on The Best Ways to Care for Your Tires
  • Hot Tips to Keep Your Tires Cool This Summer — Auto Trends Magazine on The Best Ways to Care for Your Tires
  • Your Tires: Air Pressure & Care Tips — Auto Trends Magazine on The Best Ways to Care for Your Tires
  • 5 Forgettable Cars From the 1970s — Auto Trends Magazine on A Look Back at the Chevrolet Monza
  • About the Fox-Body Ford Mustang — Auto Trends Magazine on A Look Back at the Chevrolet Monza

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008

Categories

  • Auto Parts
  • Auto Shows
  • Automotive Career
  • Automotive News
  • Book Reviews
  • Car Tips
  • Classics & Discontinued Models
  • Commentary
  • Commercial Vehicles
  • Concept Vehicles
  • Dealers
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Fleet
  • Fun News
  • Maintenance & Repairs
  • Motorsport
  • New Models
  • New Vehicle Reviews
  • Ownership Experience
  • Product Reviews
  • Special
  • Specifications

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

New!
Check out our Jobs Board!

via GIPHY

Subscribe to Auto Trends

Subscribe in a reader

Social Media

Visit our social media pages:
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest

Where is Matt Currently Published?

The Carolinian (new car reviews)
NAPA Know How Blog
On the Road Again

Pages

  • About
  • Authors List
  • Automotive Brochures
  • Contact
  • Industry Jobs
  • Write
    • Style Guide

Categories

Recent Posts

  • A Look Back at the Chevrolet Monza
  • The Best Ways to Care for Your Tires
  • Contrary to the Latest Rumors, the Ram Dakota Will Return (Maybe)
  • Highlights of the 2021 Cadillac CT4
  • What is Bidirectional Charging?
  • A Look Back at the Ford Mustang II
  • New Duck-Billed Post Office Trucks Has Some People Quacking
  • Vroom! Lexus Reveals the IS 500 F Sport.
  • Introducing the Kia Carnival MPV
  • Goodyear, Cooper Tire to Join Forces
  • Highlights of the 2021 Nissan Rogue
  • 7 Facts About the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt
  • Introducing the All-New
    2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV
  • What’s the Future for Chrysler and Dodge Under Stellantis?
  • All About Sobriety Checkpoints
  • Plug It In: Toyota RAV4 Prime
  • About the Volkswagen Taos
  • All-Wheel Drive Finally Comes to the Toyota Camry and We Like It!
  • Growing EV Industry Leaves Countries and Businesses Racing to Meet Increasing Lithium Demand
  • Introducing the All-New 2022 Nissan Pathfinder Crossover SUV
  • At Last! The All-New 2022 Nissan Frontier Revealed.
  • In Photos: 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor!
  • Cadillac V-Series Blackwing Preview!
  • Cost-Effective Crossover: Nissan Kicks
  • 10 Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Car
  • All-New Acura TLX Takes Charge
  • The Golden Years: 6 Memorable Models From the Original Era of Muscle Cars
  • From Datsun to Nissan: 40th Anniversary of the Maxima Sedan
  • The Mazda CX-5 Brings a Premium Touch to the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment
  • 4 Car Upholstery Cleaning Tips
  • The 14 Brands of Stellantis
  • Peugeot May Not Return to the U.S. Market After All
  • Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • GM Launches BrightDrop, Its Commercial EV Brand
  • The Refreshed and Handsome
    Lexus IS 350 F Sport
  • What We Know About the All-New 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
  • The All-New and Formidable 2021 Nissan Rogue Crossover
  • Fuel-Efficiency and AWD Champion: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
  • Midsize Performance Master: 2021 Hyundai Sonata N-Line
  • Performance Hatchback: The All-New 2021 Mazda Mazda3 Turbo!
  • NACTOY Finalists For 2021 Offer Familiar and Futuristic Choices
  • Super Trooper: Nissan Titan Pickup
  • Behind the Wheel of the Popular 2021 Toyota Corolla Sedan
  • Lucid Motors Completes Arizona Factory
  • A Robust Turbodiesel Comes to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • Mid-Engine Masterpiece: The Eighth-Generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  • Compact Performance:
    2021 Cadillac CT4-V
  • All-Wheel Drive Supplies the Nissan Altima With a Competitive Edge
  • Return of the Toyota Venza!
  • Lexus Brings a Convertible to the Gorgeous LC 500 Line
March 2013
S M T W T F S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Feb   Apr »

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in