Unfortunately out on the roads today distracted drivers have become part of the everyday norm. However; a recent exercise done by Allstate insurance company has revealed just how much of a problem it has become.
Allstate issued their Roadwatch, which was conducted by students throughout the state of California. The students monitored on October 11, for a one hour time period, 62 different intersections near high schools and reported back with any incidences of distracted driving. The results; Allstate noted that the "distractions during this learning-focused Allstate Roadwatch ranged from the ordinary-cell phone use as either texting or not using a hands-free device-to the extraordinary-kissing, writing and feeding children who were riding in the car," (Distracted Driving Out of Control-Allstate Research Finds More Than 100 Examples in An Hour, American Motorcyclist, December Issue 2011, Pg. 16.). Those who monitored the intersections for distracted drivers reported 6,700 incidents of distracted driving, which averages out to be more than 100 cases of distracted driving during the one hour time period. The absolute top distractions were; "eating or drinking, using a cell phone without a hands-free-device, texting or reading a cell phone, and personal grooming," (Distracted Driving Out of Control-Allstate Research Finds More Than 100 Examples in An Hour, American Motorcyclist, December Issue 2011).
The AMA (American Motorcycle Association) is taking a stand as the Board of Directors is officially adopting a position in the matter of distracted driving in hopes to tackle the issue at a government level. Distracted driving has always had attention in the biker community, as there have been "far too many cases documented of motorcyclists being injured or killed as the results of other vehicle operators being distracted or inattentive," says Imre Szauter, AMA Government Affair Manager. When it boils down, it's not just motorcyclists that are in harm's way, but everyone from "pedestrians, bicyclists, roadside assistance and emergency medical personnel, highway construction workers, law enforcement personnel, and so on," (Distracted and Inattentive Vehicle Operation, American Motorcyclist,
http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Rights/
PositionStatements/DistractedAndInattentiveVehicleOperation.aspx).
According to a research report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), "driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes, with nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes having some kind of involvement of driver inattention occurring within the three seconds before the event," (Distracted and Inattentive Vehicle Operation, American Motorcyclist,http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Rights/
PositionStatements/DistractedAndInattentiveVehicleOperation.aspx).
With reports like that it is no wonder that states have begun to enforce bills that penalize distracted driving. The AMA is working in their new position on the issue to fight for stronger penalties against distracted drivers in the result of an accident such as "enhanced fines, operator's license suspension, points assessed on an operator's record, community service, and imprisonment," (Distracted and Inattentive Vehicle Operation, AmericanMotorcyclist,
http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Rights/
PositionStatements/DistractedAndInattentiveVehicleOperation.aspx).
How you can have an effect on the issue now; don't become a distracted driver yourself and be aware of drivers around you who are distracted. Unfortunately there is not much you can do about a distracted driver on the same roadway as you expect to be alert.
