Distracted driving is any activity an operator of a motor vehicle is engaged in that both distracts them from their primary task of driving and increases their risk of an accident. In other words, distracted driving is any activity diverting a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. There are four types of driver distraction:
- Visual – looking at something other than the road
- Auditory – hearing something not related to driving
- Manual – manipulating something other than the steering wheel
- Cognitive – thinking about something other than driving.
All distractions endanger the driver, passengers, and others on the road. Distractions come from four general sources:
- Associated with the vehicle – controls, displays, navigation systems
- Brought into the vehicle – cell phones, computers, food, animals, grooming aids
- External to the vehicle – signs and displays, scenery, roadside features
- Internal to the driver’s mind – daydreaming, “lost in thought”
The most alarming of these distractions is the one that requires the driver to take his visual, manual, and cognitive attention away from driving: TEXTING.
Drunk driving, similar to distracted driving, because the driver’s visual, manual, and cognitive skills decrease due to the intoxicant. The dangers presented by drunk drivers have long been a part of our national vehicle safety consciousness. Unfortunately, the number of injuries and deaths caused by distracted drivers is likely to eclipse the drunk driving toll due to the prevalence of smartphones.
According to the CTIA, consumers have sent over 170 billion text messages in the United States as of December 2012… That statistic is five years old. That’s an eternity in technology terms. Studies show that the average driver takes his eyes off the road for 5 seconds at a time while texting. At 55 miles per hour, that is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. At 70 miles per hour, that driving blind for almost 2 football fields!
The Statistics
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that text messaging, browsing, and dialing a call resulted in the longest duration of drivers taking their eyes off the road.
Text messaging increases the risk of crash and near-crash by two times and results in drivers taking their eyes off the roado for an average of 23 seconds per text. Activities performed when cmpleting a phone call (reaching for a phone, looking up a contact, dialing the number) increased crash risk by three times. VTTI also found that the risk of a crash or near-crash events for commercial vehicle drivers who text is 23.2 times higher than non-distracted drivers.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) governs 18-wheelers and other commercial vehicles. It issued regulations prohibiting commercial drivers from texting while driving. FMCSA regulations also require that “ very commercial motor vehicle must be operated in accordance with the laws, ordinances, and regulations of the jurisdiction in which it is being operated.”
Therefore, if a state or local jurisdiction has passed a law banning or limiting electronic device use, the commercial driver is required to follow that statute.
New State Law
As of September 1, 2017, Texas has banned texting and driving. Texas posted signs s at each point where an interstate highway or US highway enters Texas stating:
“The use of a portable wireless communication device for electronic messaging while operating a motor vehicle is prohibited in this state.”
The penalty for a first-time offender is a misdemeanor fine of not less than $25 and not more than $99. For repeat offenders, the fine is $100 to $200. This new law preempts all local ordinances regarding texting and driving.
OVERVIEW
OnMyWay Is The #1 Distracted Driving Mobile App In The Nation!
OnMyWay, based in Charleston, SC, The Only Mobile App That Pays its Users Not to Text and Drive.
The #1 cause of death among young adults ages 16-27 is Car Accidents, with the majority related to Distracted Driving.
OnMyWay’s mission is to reverse this epidemic through positive rewards. Users get paid for every mile they do not text and drive and can refer their friends to get compensated for them as well.
The money earned can then be used for Cash Cards, Gift Cards, Travel Deals, and Much, Much More….
The company also makes it a point to let users know that OnMyWay does NOT sell users’ data and only tracks them for purposes of providing a better experience while using the app.
The OnMyWay app is free to download and is currently available on both the App Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android @ OnMyWay; Drive Safe, Get Paid.
Download App Now – https://r.onmyway.com
Sponsors and advertisers can contact the company directly through their website @ www.onmyway.com.
The company also makes it a point to let users know that OnMyWay does NOT sell users’ data and only tracks them for purposes of providing a better experience while using the app.