Driving distracted - by Jerry Brown

Driving is, by far, the most dangerous thing we do on a daily basis. At 30 mph, two cars approaching each other travel a combined distance of 88 ft in one second and when you consider that in most traffic situations we’re much less than 88 ft from other cars, that means you are constantly less than 1 second away from a potential collision EVEN IN TOWN AT 30 MPH. To me, that means that unless you’re driving on the Nevada salt flats, you can’t afford ANY distractions, especially if you’re in the car alone.

Furthermore, talking on a cell phone hands on or off is distracting and most of us don't really appreciate what distraction does to our situational awareness.This site does a good job of demonstrating the problem. Driving distracted

Comments

[Carl Schwab]

I can only say AMEN to this distraction issue. Many states and towns are passing laws about driving while talking on cell phones but even with threatened fines they often are ignored. Even more bizarre are people that insist on “texting” while driving.

I feel that there is a definite increase in the number of car crashes due to driver distraction.

For my part if my cell phone rings while I am driving, I flip it open and say “I call right back” and proceed to find a “pull-off” and use the last-call feature to call back.

Now I realize that may not be possible for everyone, but it works for me.

[Fred Katz]

Unfortunately, opening the cell phone and saying that you will call right back is a violation of NYS law.

[Dave Rost]

This reminds me of my effort some years ago to revive my high school German by listening to language tapes in the car. When I nearly went through a traffic light in town, I ended that idea.