A flawed culture of driving safety

A recent front-page story in the News Journal about the focus by state police and the Department of Highway Safety on distracted driving clearly outlined the serious safety issue of distracted driving on Delaware roads.

The tragic part about these crashes is the simple fact that they are easily preventable. Human error is responsible for 94 percent of all crashes. But as AAA research continues to show, driver behavior is difficult to change.

Just a few weeks ago, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released its most recent Traffic Safety Culture Index. This report compiles findings from surveys of more than 2,500 drivers representing every age and demographic in the United States.

The good news from the Traffic Safety Culture Index is that an overwhelming majority of drivers say they recognize the dangers of distracted driving. The bad news is that the majority of drivers also admit to engaging in this risky behavior.

For example, 81 percent of respondents view texting while driving as a very serious threat to their personal safety. Interestingly, the threat posed by distracted drivers outstripped that of drinking and driving, red light running and drugged driving.

More than 40 percent of drivers admitted to texting while driving in the previous 30 days, and almost 70 percent admitted to talking on a cell phone while driving during that same time period.

This practice of using a device while driving is particularly dangerous in light of recent findings from University of Utah psychology professor David Strayer. In a pair of studies for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Strayer found that it takes up to 27 seconds for a driver to regain full attention after using a device, even a hands-free device for a phone call or for texting. This means that if a driver is only going 25 mph, they could cover the length of three football fields after hanging up before they regain full attention and practice safe driving.

Maybe drivers just don’t realize how risky their behavior is behind the wheel.

Because of the dangers posed by distracted driving, AAA worked with State Rep. Deborah Hudson to help pass House Bill 302, the legislation that doubles the fines for drivers who are stopped for operating an electronic device while attempting to operate a vehicle. After the legislature passed the measure, we hosted an event at AAA Mid-Atlantic headquarters on the Wilmington Riverfront where then-Governor Jack Markell signed the bill into law while sharing with hundreds of drivers and passengers his recognition of the importance of remaining focused while driving.

We applaud efforts by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and our friends in law enforcement to make our roads safer and we urge drivers to think about their own actions behind the wheel and make safety their best driving habit.

Cathy Rossi is Vice President of Public & Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic, which includes many states and Delaware.