Safety Resources

I started writing this article on distracted driving 4 days before Christmas which was very appropriate. Everyone is a little distracted these days, but now it's January 26th when I'm finishing this up.  I got more than a little distracted.

We all get distracted but getting distracted when we are driving has grave consequences. Many cities in Montana have enacted laws to restrict the use of cell phones while driving a motor vehicle. Six Montana cities (Bozeman, Helena, Billings, Whitefish, Butte, and Missoula) have enacted similar ordinances banning the use of cell phones while driving. From a national perspective the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) is recommending an all out ban on cell phone usage in motor vehicles.  Below is a link to an article regarding this. 

http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2011/12/14/eyes-on-the-road-ntsb-calls-for-ban-on-personal-el?t=auto&utm_source=PC360DailyeNews&utm_medium=eNL&utm_campaign=PC360_eNLs

You can agree or disagree whether there should be a law banning cell phone usage but one fact remains, using a cell phone for making a call, texting, email etc. does create a distraction, and a distraction behind the wheel will cause accidents. There are many other things that cause a distraction besides cell phones these include fiddling with the radio, checking the map/gps, eating, etc.  Will knowing the risks change the way you behave with regard to cell phone usage when you are behind the wheel?  The answer needs to be yes, not for your benefit but for the other people on the road.  You need to mitigate or better yet eliminate them for your own safety and for everyone else’s safety as well.

When we conduct our safety training with School Districts around the state we often say that the difference between a serious injury and a minor injury or near miss is a matter of inches or seconds.   I know that there have been times I have talked on a cell phone when driving and wondered where the last 5 minutes had gone – yes that practice is a distraction.  There is no situation where this is anymore the case than when behind the wheel of a car, truck or bus. I'm wondering how long it takes to write a simple text like "wru@" ("Where are you at?" for anyone over 30). For me the first time took 5 seconds the second time took 3 seconds. But I'm a little slow and I wasn't driving, all of my attention was directed at writing the text. So it would probably take me a much longer time to drive, type and send a text.  This isn’t scientific, but let’s goes with 6 seconds for a simple text. Now let’s look at the math. Depending on how fast you’re driving you potentially have traveled quite a distance without seeing anything that is happening in front of you. By the way the vehicle coming towards you is traveling the same distance in that time frame. Below is a table that gives some perspective.

* 1320 ft = a quarter mile.

So in six seconds 1/4 mile of separation is gone at 75 miles an hour.

A law restricting the use of cell phone will not stop people from texting while driving. Just like a law to use seatbelts does not automatically make someone wear a seatbelt. As with most safe behaviors it comes down to personal choice.  If you choose to use a hands free device you should know that you are still significantly distracted just carrying on a conversation while driving.  This is better but still not the best solution.

Here are some tips to help break the habit while driving: 

1. Put your cell phone in the glove box or a pocket that is difficult to get to.

2. If you need to check voicemail, email or messages pull over.  Stop in a safe place and check your messages and return any phone calls as needed during the break from driving.

3. Keep the phone turned off while driving. This way you won't hear the ring tone and be tempted.

4. Let your passenger make the phone calls and check messages.

There is no phone call that is worth injuring an innocent pedestrian or potentially killing someone and then having to live with that tragedy.  There are many resources on this subject for parents, educators and teens at distraction.gov or at http://www.stoptextsstopwrecks.org. 

Everyone should also watch this brief 30 second commercial created by WorkSafe Montana called "The Talk" on the subject

What can you do?  Start today and when you drive don’t allow yourself to fall into this habit.  If you are looking for a New Year’s resolution that will create a positive impact for other Montanans’, commit to not texting, emailing, or talking on your cell phone while driving on Montana Roads!  I’ll look forward to seeing you on the highway with both hands on the wheel!

Be Safe.

Shawn Bubb