Both intoxication and distraction are dangerous for driving. Either can cause a fatal traffic crash. Combining the two further increases the risk of crashes, according to research.
Study subjects used a driving simulator. Their primary goal (# 1) was to keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of them. Their secondary goal (# 2) was to keep a stable lane position. All subjects engaged in distractions and half consumed alcohol to a BAC of 0.08.
Researchers then compared sober driving while distracted to driving intoxicated without distraction. Distraction produced more serious changes in driving behavior than did intoxication. It did this for both primary (# 1) and secondary driving (# 2) goals. But impairment was greatly increased when participants were both intoxicated and distracted.
The take home messageis simple. Don’t drive while intoxicated. And don’t drive while using a cell phone (even a hands-free model). And don’t even think of doing both at the same time.
Candy Lightner formed MADD. She did this to reduce needless drunk driving crashes. But she left the group after it changed focus. She said “It has become far more neo-prohibitionist than I ever wanted or envisioned.” Then she added “I didn’t start MADD to deal with alcohol. I started MADD to deal with the issue of drunk driving.”
MADD long avoided the problem of distracted driving. Then Ms. Lightner formed We Save Lives. This group deals with the three Ds. That’s Drugged, Distracted, and Drunken driving.
Read more at We Save Lives
Intoxication and Distraction are Dangerous
Web
Books
- Espejo, R. Cell Phones and Driving.
- Hole, G. The Psychology of Driving.
- Netzley, P. How Serious is Teen Drunk and Distracted Driving?
- Distracted Driving.
- Simms, J. Teens and Distracting Driving.
- Stewart, G. Cell Phones and Driving.
Source
- Rakauskas, M., et al. Combined effects of alcohol and distraction on driving. Acc Anal Preve, 1742-9.