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Driver Distractions: Driver Distractions: The Ticking Time BombThe Ticking Time Bomb

Lee WhiteheadLee WhiteheadDirector, DDC State Program AdministrationDirector, DDC State Program Administration

September 2007

The Big PictureThe Big Picture

Highway SafetyHighway Safety

201 million drivers (+1.3%)201 million drivers (+1.3%)

246 million vehicles (+1.1%)246 million vehicles (+1.1%)

3.0 3.0 trilliontrillion vehicle-miles travel (+0.2%) vehicle-miles travel (+0.2%) 14,700 miles/driver14,700 miles/driver

Highway SafetyHighway Safety

45,800 deaths 45,800 deaths

2.4 million disabling injuries2.4 million disabling injuries

$247.7 billion in costs to society$247.7 billion in costs to society

Recent TrendsRecent Trends

M-V Deaths, U.S., 1992-2005

40,000

42,000

44,000

46,000

48,000

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004

Recent TrendsRecent Trends

Motor-Vehicle Death Rates, U.S. 1992-2005

1.4

1.5

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.9

2.0

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004

Per 100 million vehicle miles

15.0

15.5

16.0

16.5

17.0

17.5

18.0

Per 100,000 population

Mileage Death Rate Population Death Rate

Highway Safety IssuesHighway Safety Issues

AlcoholAlcohol 21 year drinking age in all states and D.C.21 year drinking age in all states and D.C. 0.08 BAC threshold in all states and D.C.0.08 BAC threshold in all states and D.C. Zero tolerance for minors in all states and Zero tolerance for minors in all states and

D.C.D.C. 16,885 alcohol-related deaths in 200516,885 alcohol-related deaths in 2005 39% of deaths – unchanged from 200439% of deaths – unchanged from 2004

Highway Safety IssuesHighway Safety Issues

Occupant protectionOccupant protection 49 states & D.C. have mandatory use laws49 states & D.C. have mandatory use laws 82% belt use overall82% belt use overall 85% belt use in “standard” enforcement 85% belt use in “standard” enforcement

statesstates >16,000 deaths of unrestrained occupants >16,000 deaths of unrestrained occupants

in 2005in 2005

Highway Safety IssuesHighway Safety Issues

SpeedingSpeeding >13,000 fatalities>13,000 fatalities Nearly half on roads with 55 mph or greater Nearly half on roads with 55 mph or greater

speed limitspeed limit

Highway Safety IssuesHighway Safety Issues

Young driversYoung drivers 15-20 years old15-20 years old 6.3% of licensed drivers6.3% of licensed drivers 12.6% of drivers in fatal crashes12.6% of drivers in fatal crashes >8,000 deaths with young driver involved>8,000 deaths with young driver involved 48 states and D.C. have some form of GDL48 states and D.C. have some form of GDL

Highway Safety IssuesHighway Safety Issues

Distracted drivingDistracted driving 1.5 million crashes 1.5 million crashes Many kinds of distractionsMany kinds of distractions >100,000,000 drivers engage in the >100,000,000 drivers engage in the

concurrent use of a cell phone while concurrent use of a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. operating a motor vehicle.

Scope of the ProblemScope of the Problem

Nature and Magnitude of the RiskNature and Magnitude of the Risk

Comparing the RiskComparing the Risk

Implications to EmployersImplications to Employers

The Ticking Time BombThe Ticking Time Bomb

Inattention involved in 78% of all Inattention involved in 78% of all observed crashes and 66% of all crash observed crashes and 66% of all crash events (crash / near crash). events (crash / near crash). (Virginia Tech)(Virginia Tech)

10% of drivers are using cell phones at 10% of drivers are using cell phones at any one time. any one time. (NHTSA)(NHTSA)

236 million cell phone subscribers in the 236 million cell phone subscribers in the U.S. U.S. (CTIA, May 2007)(CTIA, May 2007)

Scope of the IssueScope of the Issue

73% talked on cell phones while driving 73% talked on cell phones while driving and 19% admitted text messaging while and 19% admitted text messaging while driving. driving. (Nationwide Insurance)(Nationwide Insurance)

2/3 of teens admit to text messaging 2/3 of teens admit to text messaging while driving; 16% of all cell phone while driving; 16% of all cell phone users. users. (Zogby)(Zogby)

Scope of the IssueScope of the Issue

Relative risk of cell phone use is similar Relative risk of cell phone use is similar to the hazard associated with driving to the hazard associated with driving with a BAC of .08. with a BAC of .08. (Redelmeier & Tibshirani)(Redelmeier & Tibshirani)

Slower reaction times caused by cell Slower reaction times caused by cell phone use are comparable to that of phone use are comparable to that of a .08 BAC. a .08 BAC. (Strayer)(Strayer)

Measuring the RiskMeasuring the Risk

In an observational study, 75% of cell In an observational study, 75% of cell phone users committed a traffic phone users committed a traffic violation. violation. (Strayer)(Strayer)

Cell phone users are 4 times as likely to Cell phone users are 4 times as likely to be involved in injury crashes. be involved in injury crashes. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)(Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

Simulator study showed cell phone Simulator study showed cell phone users were 5 times more likely to be in users were 5 times more likely to be in a crash. a crash. (Strayer)(Strayer)

Measuring the RiskMeasuring the Risk

Effects on DrivingEffects on Driving

It is well established that cell-phone It is well established that cell-phone usage significantly impairs driving usage significantly impairs driving performance. performance.

““Inattention blindness” – looking but Inattention blindness” – looking but not seeing. not seeing. (James, Neisser, Simmons)(James, Neisser, Simmons)

Drivers talking on a cell phone look but Drivers talking on a cell phone look but fail to see up to half of the information fail to see up to half of the information in the driving environment. in the driving environment.

Effects on DrivingEffects on Driving

““Dual-task Interference” – Active Dual-task Interference” – Active engagement in conversation raises the engagement in conversation raises the impairment. impairment.

Attention is withdrawn from the Attention is withdrawn from the processing of the information in the processing of the information in the driving environment necessary for safe driving environment necessary for safe operation of the vehicle. operation of the vehicle.

Impairments occur from both hand-held Impairments occur from both hand-held and hands-free units.and hands-free units.

Effects on DrivingEffects on Driving

Cell phone use is more distracting than Cell phone use is more distracting than radio broadcasts, books on tape, radio broadcasts, books on tape, recorded conversations and recorded conversations and passengers. passengers. (Strayer) (Strayer)

Cell phone use is less distracting than Cell phone use is less distracting than certain other activities (applying certain other activities (applying makeup, reaching for a moving object, makeup, reaching for a moving object, reading) but their lower frequency reading) but their lower frequency lowers the involvement in crashes lowers the involvement in crashes below that of cell phones. below that of cell phones. (Virginia Tech) (Virginia Tech)

Cell Phones vs.Cell Phones vs.Other DistractionsOther Distractions

Passengers provide collaborative Passengers provide collaborative problem-solving, shared situation problem-solving, shared situation awareness and active support of the awareness and active support of the driver by the passenger. driver by the passenger. (Strayer) (Strayer)

A front seat passenger A front seat passenger reducesreduces the risk the risk of a crash to 38% of that of a cell phone of a crash to 38% of that of a cell phone conversation. conversation. (Virginia Tech) (Virginia Tech)

Cell Phones vs.Cell Phones vs.Passenger ConversationsPassenger Conversations

No difference in the interference from a No difference in the interference from a hands-free or hand-held conversation. hands-free or hand-held conversation. (Strayer) (Strayer)

Dialing increases missed signals, reduces Dialing increases missed signals, reduces reaction time, and increases mental reaction time, and increases mental workload.workload.

Conversing is less distracting, but Conversing is less distracting, but endures much longer, which leads to endures much longer, which leads to higher crash involvement. higher crash involvement.

Hand-Held vs. Hands FreeHand-Held vs. Hands Free

Significant factors in the magnitude of Significant factors in the magnitude of the distraction:the distraction:

Content of the conversationContent of the conversation Age of the driverAge of the driver Conditions outside the vehicle.Conditions outside the vehicle.

Other FactorsOther Factors

Multiple tasks or distractions are the Multiple tasks or distractions are the most demanding. most demanding. Interaction with music or navigation Interaction with music or navigation

systemssystems High speedHigh speed Following another vehicleFollowing another vehicle

Other FactorsOther Factors

9 out of 10 people believe that text 9 out of 10 people believe that text messaging while driving is dangerous and messaging while driving is dangerous and distracting. distracting. (Harris Interactive & Pinger)(Harris Interactive & Pinger)

91% of American adults believe that those 91% of American adults believe that those who text message while driving are as who text message while driving are as dangerous as those who have had a couple dangerous as those who have had a couple alcoholic drinks. alcoholic drinks. (Harris Interactive & Pinger)(Harris Interactive & Pinger)

Almost 80% of crashes and 65% of near Almost 80% of crashes and 65% of near misses occur within three seconds of some misses occur within three seconds of some form of driver distration. form of driver distration. (NHTSA)(NHTSA)

Text-Messaging: Text-Messaging: drv + txt = :(drv + txt = :(

Injuries to employees; lost time on the Injuries to employees; lost time on the jobjob Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of

work-related fatalitieswork-related fatalities Average cost per crash is $16,500Average cost per crash is $16,500 Average cost per crash injury: $74,000Average cost per crash injury: $74,000

Implications for EmployersImplications for Employers

Employers are being sued for liability Employers are being sued for liability associated with crashes involving associated with crashes involving employees conducting company employees conducting company business on cell phones. business on cell phones. One recent case settled out of course for One recent case settled out of course for

$5,000,000. $5,000,000.

Implications for EmployersImplications for Employers

Ensure Ensure LeadershipLeadership reflects values & reflects values & goals of the Organizationgoals of the Organization

Establish Establish Motor Vehicle PoliciesMotor Vehicle Policies that set that set expectationsexpectations

Provide motor vehicle safety Provide motor vehicle safety Training & Training & EducationEducation that improves skills that improves skills

Monitor, evaluate, and counsel Monitor, evaluate, and counsel employee employee PerformancePerformance to improve to improve behaviorbehavior

Strategies for EmployersStrategies for Employers

Provide your employees with the Provide your employees with the knowledge and tools to use both knowledge and tools to use both ONON and and OFFOFF the job. the job.

Strategies for EmployersStrategies for Employers

3.7

8.2

0

2

4

6

8

Disabling Injuries

(Millions)

On-the-JobOff-the-Job

Off Off vsvs On the Job Injuries – 2:1 On the Job Injuries – 2:1

49,300

4,9610

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

Deaths

On-the-JobOff-the-Job

Off Off vsvs On the Job Deaths – 10:1 On the Job Deaths – 10:1