The AA recently held an event where a number of journalists were tested for their ability-or rather, inability- to drive while being distracted.
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The drivers were put into driving simulators where once comfortable were their driving skills were tested without distractions, and then WITH distractions.
The AA commented that the results were alarming and that they clearly indicated that when distracted, drivers’ reaction times are slower, and that they are much more prone to crash.
During the event the journalists were sent SMS’s that they’d have to respond to while driving. They were also asked to open and close a water bottle and were distracted by being engaged in simple conversations.
"We saw that without distractions, the journalists were able to complete a lap of a racing circuit in fairly good times; times recorded for these laps averaged around 1.41 minutes, with hardly any crashes. However, with the distractions these lap times increased to 2.20 minutes, many of them with crashes or the cars spiraling out of control. Although not entirely scientific, the results point to the dangers of having your concentration averted from the road, even for a second," the AA commented.
The AA further commented that clamping down on offending motorists is clearly not enough and that drivers need to start taking more responsibility for others on the road, particularly when being tempted to use electronic devices when driving.
"A driver who is talking on a cellphone, or texting while driving, needs to realise that their actions are not only irresponsible but also put the lives of other, law-abiding citizens in jeopardy. They can cause a crash that injures, or worse, kills, other people through their own reckless behaviour. We also want to make these drivers aware that it can happen to them: no-one is immune the dangers of being distracted," said the AA.
The AA listed the following 7 things which are most prevalent when it comes to distracted driving:
- Talking on cellphones, or texting while driving,
- Eating while driving,
- Putting on ties or other clothing while driving, or changing clothes when driving,
- Applying make-up while driving,
- Looking to the backseat to engage passengers, especially children,
- Setting GPS devices while moving, and,
- Searching for items in various areas of the car while driving
"We urge all drivers to obey the laws, and above all, to be sensible when driving. Put your cellphone in the boot of your car before driving off, and put on your tie or make-up before you get going. If you use a GPS device, set the destination before embarking on your journey. Remember that if you don’t focus on the road, there is a 100 percent likelihood that you will not avoid a crash while you are distracted," the AA concluded.
Source: The Automobile Association of South Africa
