Distracted DrivingDistracted DrivingDespina Stavrinos, PhDDespina Stavrinos, PhD

UAB University Transportation CenterUAB University Transportation Center

Distracted Driving: DefinitionDistracted Driving: Definition

Distracted driving is any nonDistracted driving is any non--driving activity a driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of distract him or her from the primary task of driving and thus increases the risk of crashing.driving and thus increases the risk of crashing.

NHTSA, 2009

More ExamplesMore Examples

Cell Phone Cell Phone -- TalkingTalkingCell Phone Cell Phone -- TextingTextingEE--mailing/Laptopsmailing/LaptopsNavigation Systems/ GPSNavigation Systems/ GPSChanging radio station, CD, Changing radio station, CD, Mp3 playerMp3 playerWatching videosWatching videosReading, including MapsReading, including Maps

Grooming/MakeGrooming/Make--up Applicationup ApplicationEatingEatingDrinking Drinking SmokingSmokingPassengersPassengersChildren/Babies in the back seatChildren/Babies in the back seatPetsPetsRoad BillboardsRoad Billboards

Distracted Driving: An EpidemicDistracted Driving: An Epidemic

Distracted Driving killed nearly Distracted Driving killed nearly 6,0006,000people in 2008. people in 2008. (NHTSA, 2009)(NHTSA, 2009)

More than More than half a millionhalf a million people were injured people were injured in in policepolice--reported crashesreported crashes in which at least in which at least one form of driver distraction was reported one form of driver distraction was reported on the crash report. on the crash report. (NHTSA, 2009)(NHTSA, 2009)

Primary Cause of Crashes?Primary Cause of Crashes?

65%65% of near crashes involve some type of of near crashes involve some type of distraction/inattention. distraction/inattention.

80%80% of all crashes involve some type of of all crashes involve some type of distraction/inattention.distraction/inattention.

NHTSA, 2009

Bicyclist killed by distracted driverBicyclist killed by distracted driver

““It only takes a second and lives can be It only takes a second and lives can be changed foreverchanged forever””

4949--yearyear--old health enthusiast Carlos Serrano died old health enthusiast Carlos Serrano died at the scene of the crash after he was hit on his at the scene of the crash after he was hit on his bicycle and thrown 200 feet through the air by 26bicycle and thrown 200 feet through the air by 26--yearyear--old motorist Kimberly Kelsey old motorist Kimberly Kelsey DrawbaughDrawbaugh. . According to the police report, According to the police report, DrawbaughDrawbaugh said said she didn't see Serrano biking because she was she didn't see Serrano biking because she was reaching into her purse for her cell phone. reaching into her purse for her cell phone.

No charges were filed against No charges were filed against DrawbaughDrawbaugh..

Scottsboro, AlabamaScottsboro, Alabama

Man Sentenced to Community Man Sentenced to Community Service for Distracted Driving DeathService for Distracted Driving Death

Lauren Lauren MulkeyMulkey, a recent high school, a recent high schoolgraduate, killed by teen Theodoregraduate, killed by teen TheodoreJorgensen when he ran a red lightJorgensen when he ran a red lightwhile fidgeting with his cell phone.while fidgeting with his cell phone.

Salt Lake City, Utah 2007Salt Lake City, Utah 2007

Jorgensen pleaded guilty to Jorgensen pleaded guilty to negligent homicide and was negligent homicide and was sentenced to 500 hours of sentenced to 500 hours of community service. community service.

Motorcyclist Killed By Motorcyclist Killed By Woman Painting Her NailsWoman Painting Her Nails

Motorcyclist, Anita Motorcyclist, Anita ZaffkeZaffke, was , was stopped at a red light when she was hitstopped at a red light when she was hitfrom behind by motorist Lora Hunt.from behind by motorist Lora Hunt.

Hunt admitted to police officers thatHunt admitted to police officers thatshe did not see she did not see ZaffkeZaffke until after theuntil after thecollision because she was painting hercollision because she was painting herfingernails. Hunt awaits fingernails. Hunt awaits trial,scheduledtrial,scheduledto begin March 1to begin March 1st st 2010, for Reckless 2010, for Reckless Homicide. Homicide.

Lake Zurich, ILLake Zurich, IL

Train Engineer Texts, 25 DEADTrain Engineer Texts, 25 DEAD

Train driver, blamed for the Train driver, blamed for the worst U.S. train crash in 15 worst U.S. train crash in 15 years, was sending and years, was sending and receiving text messages receiving text messages seconds before his crowded seconds before his crowded commuter train skipped a commuter train skipped a red light and collided headred light and collided head--on with a freight train. on with a freight train.

25 dead (incl. train driver)25 dead (incl. train driver)135 injured135 injured

Sept. 12, 2008Sept. 12, 2008Chatsworth, CAChatsworth, CA

Man Killed While Reaching for PhoneMan Killed While Reaching for Phone

28 year old Jerry Childs, killed in28 year old Jerry Childs, killed inoneone--car MVC after he reached car MVC after he reached down to pick up his fallen down to pick up his fallen cell phone. cell phone.

His stepfather, who was also in the car, His stepfather, who was also in the car, was hospitalized with injuries.was hospitalized with injuries.

August 23, 2009 Birmingham NewsAugust 23, 2009 Birmingham NewsPhenixPhenix City, AlabamaCity, Alabama

Father of 5 killed by Distracted Father of 5 killed by Distracted HitHit--andand--Run DriverRun Driver

Authorities continue to search for Authorities continue to search for the hitthe hit--andand--run driver of a mini van run driver of a mini van who witnesses say was talking on a who witnesses say was talking on a cell phone when he struck and cell phone when he struck and killed a 40killed a 40--year old father of 5 on a year old father of 5 on a bicycle in Compton.bicycle in Compton.

Three men told sheriff's deputies Three men told sheriff's deputies they saw the van hit the bicyclist, they saw the van hit the bicyclist, back up and check on the victim, back up and check on the victim, then speed away. then speed away.

Still frame from Surveillance VideoFebruary 15, 2010 Compton, California

TechnologyTechnology-- Friend or Foe?Friend or Foe?

In the U.S., ~ In the U.S., ~ 1 million1 million people at any one time people at any one time are driving while talking on the cell phone. are driving while talking on the cell phone. (National (National

Organizations for Youth Safety, 2009)Organizations for Youth Safety, 2009)

Drivers who use handDrivers who use hand--held devices are held devices are four four timestimes as likely to get into crashes serious enough as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. to injure themselves. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2009)(Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2009)

““inTEXTicatedinTEXTicated””

Cell phone use while driving delays a driver's Cell phone use while driving delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent.

(University of Utah, 2009) (University of Utah, 2009)

=+ +

WhoWho’’s at Risk?s at Risk?EVERYONE!EVERYONE!

The worst offenders are the youngest and leastThe worst offenders are the youngest and least--experienced drivers: teens. experienced drivers: teens. (NHTSA, 2009) (NHTSA, 2009)

But ConsiderBut Consider……..

Two out of three drivers aged 18Two out of three drivers aged 18--34 report using 34 report using a cell phone while driving. a cell phone while driving. (AAA, 2008)(AAA, 2008)

53% of drivers aged 4553% of drivers aged 45--54 also admit using a cell 54 also admit using a cell phone while driving. phone while driving. (AAA, 2008)(AAA, 2008)

TypesTypes

There are three main There are three main typestypes of distraction:of distraction:

Visual Visual —— taking your taking your eyes off the roadeyes off the roadManual Manual —— taking your taking your hands of the wheelhands of the wheelCognitive Cognitive —— taking your taking your mind off of what mind off of what

you're (supposed to be) doingyou're (supposed to be) doing --paying paying attention to drivingattention to driving

Distraction by Cell PhonesDistraction by Cell Phones

Most everyone owns a cell phone today! Most everyone owns a cell phone today! People have become People have become ““dependantdependant”” on being in constant on being in constant communication.communication.How Cell Phones Distract Us: How Cell Phones Distract Us:

DialingDialingLooking for your phoneLooking for your phoneAnsweringAnsweringTalkingTalkingTextingTextingEmailingEmailingApplications, e.g. games, GPS, Applications, e.g. games, GPS, FacebookFacebook, etc., etc.

Distraction by PassengersDistraction by Passengers

Kids 4x more distracting than adults as passengers.Infants 8x more distracting.

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 2009

Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 2009

Alabama Distracted Driving Summit Alabama Distracted Driving Summit December 3, 2009December 3, 2009

Describe the scope and nature of the Describe the scope and nature of the problem problem Identify meaningful ways to increase public Identify meaningful ways to increase public awareness awareness Identify and review legislative and Identify and review legislative and regulatory approachesregulatory approaches

U.S. Secretary of Transportation U.S. Secretary of Transportation LaHood Comes to AlabamaLaHood Comes to Alabama

““U.S. Transportation U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Secretary Ray LaHood Commends University Commends University of Alabamaof Alabama--Birmingham for Birmingham for Convening First Convening First Statewide Summit on Statewide Summit on Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving””

US US DOT 187DOT 187--09, Thursday, December 3, 2009 09, Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Science Behind The Science Behind Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving

Presentation from the Presentation from the Alabama Distracted Driving Summit byAlabama Distracted Driving Summit by

Dr. John Lee Dr. John Lee University of Wisconsin, MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison

Naturalistic Studies of Naturalistic Studies of Distracted Driving Distracted Driving

Presentation from the Presentation from the Alabama Distracted Driving Summit byAlabama Distracted Driving Summit by

Dr. Rich Hanowski Dr. Rich Hanowski Virginia Tech Transportation InstituteVirginia Tech Transportation Institute

Other Examples of ResearchOther Examples of Research

AAA Traffic Safety Culture IndexAAA Traffic Safety Culture IndexNationwide Insurance Nationwide Insurance http://www.nationwide.com/newsroom/dwdhttp://www.nationwide.com/newsroom/dwd--surveys.jspsurveys.jsp

UAB UAB UTCUTC’’ss research on Distracted Drivingresearch on Distracted Driving

Public Awareness & Public Awareness & EducationEducation

Public Awareness & Public Awareness & EducationEducation

Gwent Police Department PSA, UKGwent Police Department PSA, UKRaised $20K to make a realistic, controversial distracted Raised $20K to make a realistic, controversial distracted driving videodriving video

YouTubeYouTube -- PSA PSA TextingTexting while Driving U.K. Ad [HD]while Driving U.K. Ad [HD]

Map of States with Text BansMap of States with Text BansInsurance Institute for Highway Safety, February 2010

Legislation, Regulation & EnforcementLegislation, Regulation & Enforcement

AL House of Reps has approved a bill AL House of Reps has approved a bill prohibiting prohibiting textingtexting while driving while driving Jan. 19, 2010Jan. 19, 2010

Prohibits manually operating a GPS while Prohibits manually operating a GPS while driving as welldriving as wellBill to move to Alabama Senate Bill to move to Alabama Senate Proposed fines: Proposed fines:

$25$25-- 11stst offense offense $50$50-- 22ndnd offense offense $75$75-- 33rd rd offense offense

DiscussionDiscussion

Is the current proposed Legislation in Alabama a Is the current proposed Legislation in Alabama a good idea?good idea?

Are the fines strict enough?Are the fines strict enough?Are the fines too strict?Are the fines too strict?What modifications do you think would result in more What modifications do you think would result in more Alabama state residents following the proposed law?Alabama state residents following the proposed law?

DiscussionDiscussion

Tough Laws:Tough Laws:Should a distracted driver be held responsible for Should a distracted driver be held responsible for deaths caused by their inattention to driving? deaths caused by their inattention to driving?

What should be the penalty?What should be the penalty?Fines?Fines?License suspension?License suspension?Probation?Probation?Community Service?Community Service?Jail Time? How long?Jail Time? How long?

DiscussionDiscussion

Is enforcement feasible?Is enforcement feasible?Should AlabamaShould Alabama’’s law enforcement focus on cell s law enforcement focus on cell phone use while driving when there are many other phone use while driving when there are many other ““problemsproblems””??If a person is pulled over for an offense other than If a person is pulled over for an offense other than cell phone use or cell phone use or textingtexting, or causes an MVC, should , or causes an MVC, should law enforcement be able to retrieve cell records?law enforcement be able to retrieve cell records?

DiscussionDiscussion

““Do as I say, not as I doDo as I say, not as I do……..””

What is the most effective way to educateWhat is the most effective way to educateteens? parents?teens? parents?

““Time is MONEYTime is MONEY……..””

What is the most effective way to educate What is the most effective way to educate business professionals?business professionals?

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

Contact Info:Contact Info:Email Email dstavrin@uab.edudstavrin@uab.eduPhone 205Phone 205--934934--78617861Lab website (coming soon!) Lab website (coming soon!) www.triplaboratory.comwww.triplaboratory.com