Distracted Driving: Avoid Becoming A Statistic

Distracted Driving Statistics In 2010, there were a total of 32,788 fatalities. (NHTSA) In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in crashes involving driver distraction (16% of total fatalities). (NHTSA) 20% of 1.8 million injury crashes involved distracted driving (NHTSA) 40% of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a phone in a way that puts people in danger. (Pew)

Distracted Driving Statistics Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than handheld use. (VTTI) Drivers who use hand-held devices are 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves (Monash Univ.) Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%. (Carnegie Mellon)

Definition What is distracted driving? Visual Manual Cognitive Distracted driving is any non-driving activity/ a person engages in that has a potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increases the risk of crashing

Risks VS Attention/Distraction RISKRISK RISKRISK RISKRISK RISKRISK RISKRISK TIME

Multitasking Demonstration

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Drive Cam – What is it?

Visual Distraction

Cognitive Distraction

Research …..conversing on cell phones while driving disrupts the driver's attention to the visual environment, leading to what the authors call "inattention blindness," or the inability to recognize objects encountered in the driver's visual field David Strayer, Frank Drews and William Johnston at the University of Utah

What causes crashes? 95% Indecision or Poor Decisions 5% Mechanical Defects or Environment

Decision Making Process Input Knowledge & Training Experience & Attitude Output Decisions Seeing Hearing Feeling

Research When drivers were conversing on either a handheld or hands-free cell phone, their braking reactions were delayed and they were involved in more traffic accidents than when they were not conversing on a cell phone. David Strayer, Frank Drews and William Johnston at the University of Utah

Stopping Distance Perception Time 0.75 Seconds Reaction Time 0.75 Seconds Breaking Time ?

Distance Traveled Traveling at 75 mph (110 ft/sec) 0.75 sec perception = 82.5 ft sec reaction = 82.5 ft 1.5 sec = 165 ft before braking

Apps Vlingo – Voice activated and reads texts DriveSafe.ly Reads and responds to e- mails and text messages iZup, tXtBlocker, CellSafety and ZoomSafer - lock phone while in motion – GPS based CellControl – hardware installed into vehicle - ODBII

Example Policy Statements Employees must comply with Federal, State, or Local regulations which may exist to control usage of mobile devices while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers may not send or review received text messages, either on a company- owned or personally-owned device.

Example Policy Statements Drivers may not operate any other mobile device, including but not limited to a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), Converged Device (Blackberry), Pocket PC, binaural headset-based audio device such as an MP3 player, or laptop computer, whether a company-owned or personally- owned device.

Example Policy Statements Any employee who fails to adhere to this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, including, for example, written warning, and/or subsequent restrictions on using a vehicle for company business.

Negligent Entrustment …..must prove 1.That the owner entrusted the vehicle to the driver; 2.That the driver was unlicensed, incompetent, or reckless; 3.That the owner knew or should have known that the driver was unlicensed, incompetent, or reckless;

Negligent Entrustment …..must prove 4.That the driver was negligent in the operation of the vehicle; 5.That the driver’s negligence resulted in damages

Negligent Entrustment Case Studies A nine (9) year old died and several other people were seriously injured. Insured's driver was operating one of the vehicles involved. Insured sued for negligent operation of a vehicle and under the doctrine of respondent superior. Liability = $2.5 million Reputational Liability = ?

Negligent Entrustment Case Studies Insured vehicle struck while attempting a left turn. Insured driver found to be using alcohol. The passenger in the insured vehicle suffered severe bodily injury. The insured operator was killed. WC Costs – Statutory Potential Liability $2.9 million Reputational Liability = ?

Technologies to help…. DriveCam SmartDrive Onboard Advisor GreenRoad Envision

Technologies to help…. License Monitor State license event automatic notification service – ex. New York State LENS (License Event Notification System)

Distracted Driving: Avoid Becoming A Statistic Resources: US Department of Transportation Network of Employers for Traffic Safety National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Liberty Mutual Loss Control Advisory Services ANSI/ASSE Z Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operation