Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is fast becoming one

of the country's biggest health

concerns. As more and more drivers

text while on the road, distracted

driving crashes are steadily increasing

year after year. Distracted drivers are

responsible for about 80% of traffic

accidents.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving means driving while not

fully paying attention to the road. Many

people think of texting and driving or

talking on the phone when driving; however,

you can also be distracted by:

 Reaching for something.

 Changing the music.

 Checking email or social media.

 Checking your GPS or map.

 Putting on makeup/grooming.

 Taking a photo.

 Kids and/or pets in the car.

 Eating and drinking.

Even talking to a passenger in your car can be

a distraction. You are distracted ANY TIME

your mind and/or your eyes are off the road.

In fact, the Center For Disease Control and

Prevention estimates that 9 people are

killed every day in the U.S. as a result of

crashes involving a distracted driver.

Distracted driving is all too common. Think

about your daily commute. How many times

have you looked over and seen someone

looking down at his phone? Even if it's just

for a brief text, the results can be deadly.

Consider the following statistics:

When you send a text, you take your eyes

off the road for about 5 seconds. That's

the time it takes to drive the length of a

football field going 55 MPH!

At any moment during the daylight hours,

about 660,000 drivers are handling cell

phones or other electronic devices while

driving in the U.S. You are 3 times more

likely to get into an accident when

distracted by a cell phone while driving.

STAY FOCUSED - STAY ALIVE

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2 0 2 0 C R I T I C A L D A Y S O F S U M M E R N E W S L E T T E R

Distracted Driving

It's tempting to try to stay connected by

texting and driving, or to take a quick look at

your GPS, but those actions can cost you

your life or cause you to injure or kill some-

one else. Always think about whether it's

worth it. Is the text message you're about to

send worth an injury or death?

Don't let a distraction turn deadly. If you

must make a call, send a text message, check

a map, etc., pull over to the side of the road.

D R I V I N G W H I L E I N T E X T I C A T E D

Have you ever noticed the car in front

of you suddenly slowing, speeding up,

or drifting sideways? This is typical

behavior of a distracted driver and it

catches the attention of police officers.

Using your cell phone while driving is not

only dangerous, but also illegal. In California,

you cannot use a cell phone or similar

electronic communication device while

holding it in your hand. You can only use it in

a hands-free manner, such as speaker phone

or voice commands, but never while holding

it. Any driver under the age of 18 is

prohibited from using a cell phone for any

reason.

And remember. Other serious driver distrac-

tions such as eating, grooming, reading,

reaching for objects on the floor, changing

clothes or talking with passengers are just as

dangerous and can result in a “reckless

driving” or “speed unsafe for conditions”

ticket.

Currently, 48 states and Washington, D.C.,

have outlawed texting for all drivers,

according to the Governors Highway Safety

Association. A first-offense ticket in

California can cost you close to $200 but it

doesn’t end there. Most insurance companies

will also raise your rates, and California has

the highest average rate increase—45%!! For

example, if your rate was $1,708 per year

before; it would increase to $2,484 after a

ticket for texting!

Beyond a fine and an insurance increase, a

texting ticket adds points to your driving

record in some states. In California, four

points in a 12-month period gets you a six-

month license suspension and year-long pro-

bation. If you’re on base, that ticket will earn

you 6 points. That’s putting you halfway to

losing your base driving privileges for a year!

Have you ever been sitting at a red

light busily texting only to receive a

sharp horn blast from the vehicle

behind you?

Chances are, the driver behind you has seen

you on your cell phone, or otherwise

distracted, and is enraged that someone is

breaking the law AND limiting their own

chances of getting through the traffic signal.

Distracted drivers are often the catalyst for

raging drivers. The AAA Foundation defines

road rage as “violent anger caused by the

stress and frustration involved in driving a motor

vehicle – a motorist’s uncontrolled anger that is

usually provoked by another motorist’s irritating

act is expressed in aggressive or violent behav-

iors with an intention to cause physical harm.”

As a motorist, you may have driving habits

that are linked to other motorists’

aggressive driving. Texting, according to the

2014 Road Rage Report conducted by

NorthStar for Expedia, has surpassed

tailgating in terms of behavior that triggers

the most anger in other drivers. For almost

7 of 10 American drivers surveyed, ‘The

Texter’ is viewed as the most aggravating

driving behavior, followed by ‘The Tail

gater’ (60%), ‘The Multi-Tasker’ (54%), ‘The

Drifter’ (43%) and ‘The Crawler’ (39%).

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D I S T R A C T E D D R I V E R S F U E L R O A D R A G E

D I S T R A C T E D D R I V I N G

C A M P P E N D L E T O N S A F E T Y C E N T E R

We provide a wide range of safety support services aimed at preserving

combat readiness by identifying hazards and reducing risk to people and

resources. We perform inspections, provide technical support, assist

with safety program implementation, conduct mishap investigations, and

offer safety training opportunities for all base personnel to include ten-

ant commands. We want to empower all Sailors, Marines, civilians, and

their families to embrace a proactive culture of risk identification and

management to achieve zero preventable mishaps.

Have a question? Email us at: Cpen_safet[email protected]

Commanding General’s Safety Hotline: 760.763.7233

Common characteristics of an aggressive

driver include drivers with high frustration

levels and low concern for others on the

road and motorists who run stop signs,

disobey red lights, speed, tailgate, weave in

and out of traffic, make unsafe lane changes,

blow their horns, and make hand or facial

gestures. If you are approached, do not

communicate with an aggressive driver and

if possible, report the unsafe driver.

By understanding and abiding by the laws of

the road, staying alert, and avoiding

distractions, the threat of distracted driving

is mitigated and the likelihood of someone

succumbing to road rage are diminished.