Driver distraction – as our news followers know – is one of the leading causes of road accidents. And drivers are aware of this too. But, as the saying goes, "there's a big difference between saying and doing..."
An interesting US survey from some time ago by the Traffic Safety Culture Index reveals that very high percentages of drivers are aware of the danger of certain behaviors, yet not all of them avoid them. Example: the report shows that practically 100% consider reading or writing messages while driving very dangerous; however, about a quarter of respondents then admitted to having typed messages and 33% to having read them. Furthermore, 80% of respondents consider it dangerous to hold the phone to talk or send voice messages, but then 37% state they have done so at least once in the previous 30 days.
The percentage of drivers aware of the risks associated with drunk driving is also close to 100%, yet 6% of them "tempted fate." The data on speed is interesting – and a little disturbing: only 52.3% of drivers consider speeding on the highway very dangerous; as a logical consequence, 3 out of 4 admit to having exceeded the limit by at least 20 km/h at least once in the previous month.
Leaving the United States and broadening the discussion, any behavior that causes us to take our eyes off the road is risky. Arguing with our passenger, handing a snack to the child in the back seat, quickly checking makeup in the mirror... To avoid these driving distractions, we must rely solely on the common sense of the person behind the wheel. But for other things, technology comes to our rescue. Correctly using the car's integrated controls – voice controls, steering wheel controls, with a virtual assistant – reduces risks without too many sacrifices.
