Distracted Driving Research Paper

Words: 419
Pages: 2

When a motorist does not give their driving 100% mental and visual focus, the person is a distracted driver. Looking at the scenery or a traffic accident, daydreaming, eating, or grooming are just a few of the many diversions that engage drivers. A more recent phenomenon is multitasking driving with cell phone use. Most people are aware that it's considered a distraction, but believe it isn't a big deal or that it doesn't affect their driving. Unfortunately, it's a form of impairment that's as debilitating as drunk driving. Distractions affect drivers in two profound ways:

A Lack of Road Environment Awareness

Distraction reduces the driver's awareness, either visually or mentally, of the events taking place on the road. Cell phone use can cause inattention blindness where a driver with perfectly good vision fails to see cars and objects on the road. Accidents are more likely to occur at intersections, which involve traffic coming and going in multiple directions. Safely negotiating such a complex situation demands an alert and focused mind. The distracted multitasker may be able to avoid collisions with cars and trucks, but often will fail to see pedestrians and motorcyclists.
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The defensive driver will notice the distracted pedestrian about to step off the curb and into the road in front of her. The sight of playing children next to the road will prompt the driver to slow down and be prepared to stop. Such a driver will notice the brake lights of traffic further down the road and will anticipate a sudden traffic slowdown.

The distracted driver will do none of these things and may even fail to react at the last second to these