Let's start off with this alarming sentence from DriversEd.com:
"“There’s an argument to be made that, in 2018, distracted driving is actually a worse problem in America than drunk driving”. That was from Laura Adams, a spokesperson for DriversEd.com, who just released a very comprehensive study about "Distracted Driving" in America.
Okay, so first, what is "Distracted Driving"? It can be defined as "...participating in dangerous, distracting behavior while behind the wheel".
That's:
-Texting
-Talking on the phone
-Shaving your face
-Singing at the top of your lungs
Basically, it's anything that isn't you keeping your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
In a study of over 1,400 people; DriversEd.com found that "...more than half (54%) of surveyed drivers said they’ve texted while behind the wheel". And what's even scarier is that it's no longer limited to texting and driving (which is according to some, just as dangerous as drinking and driving), in fact more people are watching Netflix and YouTube while driving!
People are watching TV and driving on the roads!!!
Here's some stats found in the study:
-A total of 8% of drivers admit to watching YouTube videos behind the wheel.
-A total of 18% drivers admit to checking social media behind the wheel.
-Nearly 400,000 people were injured in distracted driving–related collisions in 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported. And in 2016, distracted driving caused 3,450 fatalities.
The entire study can be seen below, and I seriously hope some start to change their habits.
Source: DriversEd.com
I walk to work every day, and see people speeding in our parking lot while swerving around speed bumps and checking their phones thinking it's safe to do so in a parking lot. But people are walking, cars are coming out of crowded spots, one day someone is going to get hurt. I seriously can only hope it won't be me.
So what do police have to say about "Distracted Driving"? First off, they have to deal with people who always think they can get away with something, as you'll see right off the bat in this video. But then also remember, they then have to deal with many people's attitude towards getting a ticket. When in reality, these officers aren't doing this for fun! They are doing it to safe your life, and more importantly, an innocent life you might end up taking due to you texting and driving!
For the past year, Apple and iPhone users have had "Do Not Disturb While Driving". A feature on your smartphone and smart devices that knows when you are in your car and basically "shuts down your devices" so you aren't tempted to pick up or look at your phone while driving a vehicle.
By "shutting down" I mean, it doesn't notify you with texts/emails/calls or any other notifications (Facebook, Instagram, games) while you are behind the wheel of a moving car. iPhone users already know that your phone can store in maps where you've parked your car, so it can also detect when you get in it.
Since the arrival of "Do Not Disturb While Driving" I have personally not picked up or felt tempted to look at the phone since I don't see or feel any notifications. You don't feel the sense of missing out. You can just focus on the road, keeping yourself and others safe!
If you haven't turned on "Do Not Disturb While Driving", PLEASE DO!