Yet another study shows that motorists probably are not completely focused on driving.
The latest research by State Farm Insurance suggests that far too often drivers get distracted – even when fully aware of the danger of doing so. The survey showed that half of the drivers on the road admit to bad behavior.
Ÿ More than half of the respondents said they “always” or “often” read or send texts while driving.
Ÿ Nearly half admitted interacting with apps on their phones while driving.
Ÿ At least two in five drivers admitted watching videos or manually dialing their phone while driving.
Ÿ One-third of drivers reported using video chat or recording video while driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 37% of drivers have admitted falling asleep at the wheel.
Other distractions while driving included talking to passengers (93%), checking on children in the back seat (23%), and attending to a pet in the vehicle (21%).
Still other frequent distractions include listening to music at high decibel levels, eating food while driving, speeding, “rubbernecking” at the site of a wreck or a driver pulled over by a law enforcement officer, dropping something and leaning over to pick it up from the floorboard, and manually dialing a mobile telephone.
Nearly all drivers, 91%, reported owning a smartphone, and more than half say they use them while driving.
All of those issues can be managed to prevent a crash, State Farm officials noted. A person’s mental state when behind the wheel can be distracting and lead to disaster, causing more than 100,000 crashes each year.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported that 388 of the 18,609 crashes OHP troopers investigated in 2020 involved at least one driver who was distracted by a mobile phone or other electronic device, said Sarah Stewart, director of media operations for the Department of Public Safety.
In 2020 and 2021, the Oklahoma City Police Department wrote a total of 204 citations for texting while driving, and issued 1,760 traffic tickets for failure to devote full time and attention to driving, the OKC Municipal Court told Southwest Ledger.
Cellphone use indicator of
other risky driving behaviors
Survey respondents were asked about the various types of smartphone activities they participate in. They also were questioned about other risky driving behaviors, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, racing, failing to wear a seatbelt, and driving while drowsy. The relationship was clear, State Farm reported: The greater the number of smartphone activities drivers engaged in while behind the wheel, the more likely they were to participate in other risky behaviors, as well.
Drivers know risk
but can’t resist
Survey respondents reported using smartphones while driving despite finding them distracting and despite thinking the behavior increases the likelihood of a crash. When asked why, they provided reasons such as improved efficiency, need to stay in touch, habit, searching for information on the internet, and seeing something they want to share.
“Today’s drivers are faced with an ever-growing number of demands on their attention that may distract them from the critical task of driving,” said Chris Mullen, director of technology research at State Farm.
In February 2022, the State Farm Enterprise Research Department used an outside panel vendor to conduct an online survey of U.S. consumers ages 18 and older. Survey responses were received from 828 consumers who reported having a valid driver’s license and driving at least one hour per week.
This was State Farm’s eighth survey exploring attitudes and behaviors regarding distracted driving.
“In a culture of increasing distractions, it’s a good reminder to focus on one thing: driving the car,” said Lisa Joyce of State Farm Public Affairs. “The responsibility for change begins with each of us limiting our own distractions behind the wheel, setting an example to those around us, and asking those we care about to put down the phone and focus on the road.”