Today drivers have a large number of distractions such as mobile phones, smoking, or trying to read the GPS while driving.
It seems that technological advances in automotive safety have made our cars better but have also introduced a host of other electronics counteracting this benefit.
Talking on mobile phones
According to a recently study conducted in Australia by Net Equity, using a mobile phone while driving, keeps us from receiving 50% of information from the road. In other words, it takes away 50% of your concentration in driving. Your concentration is diverted in to trying to listen to what you are hearing on the phone. The lapse of your concentration for just a couple of seconds will be enough to cause an accident, which could turn out to be fatal, causing your own death or you could be the reason for causing the death of others traveling in the vehicle.
Talking on your mobile phone while driving is a violation that is punishable with a fine as well as loss of driving license points.
Moreover, the study showed that deaths from accidents could be reduced by 7 to 8% if everyone driving a vehicle avoided speaking on the phone. Additionally, it was interesting to note that allowing the use of hands free headsets to talk on the mobile phone while driving causes some distraction, in that, the driver's attention, while continuing the conversation, would definitely be distracted at some point or other during the conversation, and this could lead to an accident.
Smoking while drivingAnother huge cause of distraction is smoking while driving. The driver, while lighting the cigar or cigarette, holds the steering wheel with only three fingers as the other two fingers would be holding the cigarette and the other hand is used to light it. This can lead to loss of concentration for at least 3 to 4 seconds - the average time taken to light a cigarette. It must be noted here that during this time the driver's attention is diverted and in these few seconds, a vehicle travelling at 100 km/h would travel 113 metres, which would be enough to cause a fatal accident.
GPS
Yet another important element of distraction is the use of a GPS navigator while behind the wheel, something that has recently joined the usual number of distractions in a vehicle and is causing serious accidents to drivers Australia-wide.
Drink drivingOne more important cause is driving under the influence of alcohol. This causes your reflexes to slow down and delays messages reaching the brain, which impairs the driver's actions and makes him to err in judgment of the road, thereby causing accidents. It is important for people to understand how dangerous this is and to refrain from driving after drinking.
Realization and adherenceWe often forget that the car is just a machine and driving it requires the driver's complete concentration on the road. Any lapse would lead to major accidents causing the loss of many lives.
People driving motor vehicles need to be responsible and alert for the sake of oneself and others in the vehicle, refraining from any activity that can cause distractions. And always remember that even if you believe you are a great driver and hence can't operate your vehicle safely without paying much attention, this doesn't guarantee that the other driver in the opposite direction might be as "skilled" as you. So your alertness could avoid accidents that are not of your fault as well.
