Everyone has read about the dangers of distracted driving.  Unfortunately, many of us have also experienced it first hand in the form of being involved in a motor vehicle accident or having a loved one or friend who has been involved in such an accident.  There is simply no debate that distracted driving leads to increase risk of motor vehicle accidents.  However, there is a debate on the best way to deal with the issues related to distracted driving.

Many individuals have begun advocating for increased technology to alleviate distracted driving.  Devices that allow voice-activated commands, such as voice-activated texting, voice-activated GPS, and hands-free telephone calls, are on the rise.  The concept behind these products is to use technology to make current technology safer, rather than prohibiting its use while operating a motor vehicle altogether.  Despite this, there are disputes about whether ever-increasing technology is, in fact, the best way to deal with distracted driving or whether ever-increasing technology simply creates even more distracted driving.

A study published by Professor David Strayer of the University of Utah, sponsored by AAA (formerly the American Automobile Association) Foundation for Traffic Safety, indicates that ever-increasing technology does not alleviate distracted driving and actually makes it even worse.  The full study can be found at https://www.aaafoundation.org/measuring-cognitive-distractions.  The study measured cognitive distractions while driving a motor vehicle.  According to the study, three types of in-vehicle distractions exist:  impairments to driving (such as taking your eyes of the road); manual impairments to driving (such as taking your hands of the steering wheel); and cognitive impairments to driving (when attention is withdrawn from the task of driving itself).

To evaluate cognitive distraction, researchers evaluated reaction time and physiological measures, such as brain activity and eye movements.  Drivers were given a series of eight increasingly cognitively-demanding tasks in various simulated laboratory and driving simulator and real-life situations.  These activities included no distractions at all; listening to the radio; listening to an audio book; talking with a passenger; having a conversation on a hand-held device; having a conversation on a hands-free device; speech-to-text; and performing math and verbal problems.  As drivers engaged in activities that required more attention, cognitive distraction consistently increased.  Notably, speech-to-text and more complicated cognitive activities, such as performing math and verbal problems with driving, produced the next-to-highest and highest levels of cognitive distraction.

The study reports that even with eyes and hand on the wheel, causes of cognitive distraction cause major impairments to safe driving.  These include suppressed brain activity to the areas needed for safe driving; increased reaction time; missed cues; and decreased visual attention.  The study clearly indicates that hands-free does not mean safer.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released figures related to accidents occurring in the year 2012.  According to the yearly report, 421,000 individuals were injured in accidents related to distracted driving.

Regardless of the cause, if you or a loved one has been injured or a loved one has been killed in a motor vehicle accident, the consequences can be devastating.  During this difficult time, you need experienced attorneys to help you make sense of the chaos surrounding you—legally, financially, and otherwise.  Barrett Law PLLC, has experience to provide you with this kind of help.  Our law firm ahs been representing individuals injured in car and truck accidents in Mississippi for decades.  If you have any questions about lawsuits related to car or truck accident injuries, please contact us at (800) 707-9577 to set up a no-cost consultation.