Information and Resources

On the Road to Distraction?

July 18, 2000 (Washington) -- Tuning your car radio or drinking coffee while driving can be dangerous distractions, but the federal government is increasingly concerned about newer competitors for driver attention, such as cellular phones, interactive navigators, vehicle e-mail devices, and fax machines.

The explosion in such high-tech communication gadgetry prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to hold a public hearing Tuesday over concerns about the ever-shrinking attention that drivers are actually paying to driving.

According to the agency, about a quarter of the nation's 6.3 million vehicle crashes each year involve some form of distraction. An NHTSA survey found that 44% of drivers now keep phones operational when they drive, 7% have e-mail access and 3% have fax connections.

Some suggest that technology is already contributing to tragedy. In public testimony at the hearing, Florida resident Joyce White recounted the fatal 1997 auto crash that claimed her 21-year-old daughter and a friend. No alcohol was involved in the crash. It occurred with little traffic, during clear weather, where all involved were wearing seat belts. But the other driver was talking on a cellular phone.

No states have laws against driving while talking on the phone, although in some cases, drivers may be cited for distracted driving.

The NHTSA says it is now advising consumers not to talk on the phone or use other devices while they are driving. And it is looking for cooperation from auto manufacturers and telecommunication device firms.

Among the tough questions the government is seeking to answer are how to quantify distraction and how to determine how much distraction is too much.

Rosalyn Millman, the agency's deputy administrator, said, "We cannot wake up in 2004 or 2003, or even a year from now, and excuse the possibly scores -- or hundreds -- of deaths -- or the injuries to thousands more -- because we failed to ask the right questions and we failed to seek answers."

But there are balances to find, too. New technologies bring plenty of benefits. Cell phones can help lost drivers evade unsafe situations and can quickly connect travelers to emergency services. Other devices now included in some high-end cars can send out SOS messages when the vehicle's air bag is deployed, helping speed the arrival of emergency medical teams.

Terrence Connolly, a General Motors executive, said that technology is moving so quickly that regulatory policies are not likely to keep up. With that in mind, he called for a focus on education to consumers about using in-vehicle devices as safely as possible. At the same time, automakers are studying distraction issues with devices, said Vann Wilber of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Connolly noted the appeal of these devices can be overwhelming, particularly among those who often feel squeezed for time, strive to be in control, and are accustomed to technology being available everywhere.

In a presentation at the hearing, Motorola executive Brian Gratch tapped into these themes, noting the importance of connectivity and integration. Motorola's vehicle e-mail systems are largely hands-free, using technologies such as voice activation.

But the government countered that even "hands-free" vehicle devices cause cognitive distraction that can lead to crashes. Research conducted by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, for example, found that drivers with cognitive distraction took left turns with less space from the oncoming cars, according to Mark Edwards, PhD, a safety official with AAA.

The NHTSA is operating an Internet forum through Aug. 11 that allows the public to download research on driver distraction issues, share information, and ask questions. The address for the forum is www.driverdistraction.org.