Almost 1000 Americans are injured every day due to distracted driving, yet only 20 states have prohibited handheld cell phone use in the car. Numerous organizations are working diligently to decrease the occurrence of injuries associated with distracted driving but very little progress has been made in decreasing injuries or the use of cell phones while driving.
Over 80% of individuals agreed that no one should engage in distracted driving yet almost 40% of them admit to doing it themselves. There is a cognitive disconnect between the danger versus the convenience of texting or using a cellphone while driving and most people incorrectly believe they can multitask safely.
Distracted driving has become a public health crisis and almost 4000 people a year die due to distracted driving. This number has increased steadily in the past 10 years. As usual changing human behavior is exceptionally difficult and simple education is one of the poorest means to effectuate long-term sustained changes in human behavior. Simple written warnings are most often equally ineffective in achieving the goal of decreasing distracted driving. Some estimates range as high as 20 people daily being killed by distracted driving and tragically the injuries and deaths disproportionately involve youth with teens being the largest age group suffering harm.
While legislating behavior is one means to change behavior, rigorous enforcement is needed to maximize the effectiveness. While these facts are not disputed by the mass majority of stakeholders, effective intervention is wanting. What is left for our society to do?
Action Items
1. Passing and enforce legislation nationwide on both a federal and state level which prohibits and penalizes distracted driving. In addition strict enforcement of these prohibition including by remote camera surveillance and ticketing, as is done for speeding which has proved effective, can be initiated.
2. Educating both youth in school and adults using public service announcement and other media campaigns should be encouraged. Education must not only provide narrative information but also use neurocognitively proven educational techniques to imprint the importance of the message.
3. Lastly and probably most effectively using technology. Everyone is aware that many GPS devices cannot be utilized when the car is moving. Simple software installed on phones would eliminate dramatically the harms associated with distracted driving. Once a car is in motion the phone could be disabled from interaction. GPS function of the phone could be maintained but with disabled keyboard and phone/text function would be useful.
The unfortunate growth of cell phone use during driving creates a dangerous situation, putting both driver and the public at large at risk. Simple interventions and most importantly using technologic solutions are likely to reduce the harms that have been growing out of control.
Copyright NicolasArgy 2020