Distracted driving takes many forms, it can range from grooming oneself, to talking to passengers, to changing the radio station. Even using a hands-free phone can result in “inattention blindness” causing a motorist to fail to notice something in plain sight. And while cars have the benefits of safety features like airbags, seat belts and bumpers, the element that best protects other road users like pedestrians and bicyclists is you, the driver. These are among the reasons why cities like Martinez will be having zero tolerance for distracted driving this month.
Photo credit: Umberto Brayj
Here are some facts to keep in mind about distracted driving:
- In California it is illegal to text or use a hand-held cellphone while driving.
- Using a cell phone while driving – whether it’s hand-held or hands-free delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent.
- In 2009, 5,474 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving driver distraction, and an estimated 448,000 were injured.
Find more information about dangers and reality of distracted driving over at Official U.S. Government Website for Distracted Driving.
