During a question and answer segments at the Distracted Driving Summit, some folks took presenters to task for using certain phrases. They felt that they could be misconstrued. Two statements in particular applied:

“Driving is easy” — This replied to the simple physical act of driving a car. Indeed, driving down a straight road with little traffic and no inside distractions is easy for a capable driver. There are also the accidents avoided due to defensive driving by others. But it can all go very bad, very easily.

In one crash that was used to illustrate the risks of driving while on the phone, a gust of wind hit a Ford Explorer while its inexperienced driver was on the phone. She over-corrected, crossed a center barrier, and killed herself and several occupants of the oncoming vehicle. There were multiple factors there: a short-wheelbase SUV with no stability control, driving inexperience (she had owned the Explorer less than a day before the crash), and the distraction of being on the phone.
 
This discussion brought up some interesting points. Very few drivers will say that they are below-average (or even average) in their driving capability. This mindset is furthered by the absence of feedback as to whether you’re doing a good job at driving. Sure, you might not have had a crash for decades. But that doesn’t account for near-misses, which studies show are quite frequent.
 
This lack of feedback on driving behavior makes driving harder as there is little way to know how to get better. Some vehicles, like the Volvo XC60 we tested, warn you when you’re following too close. This is done fairly unobtrusively, and other passengers wouldn’t see it. Also consider the success of hybrids at using interactive displays to aid drivers in getting better fuel economy. Even a fuel economy display readout or “eco” light lets the driver know their driving is saving gas. Of course, doing this with little distraction or annoyance is a challenge.
 
Another interesting question was posed that related to the difficulty of driving: can steps be taken to reduce the severity of distraction-related accidents? This is a difficult question, given the relatively high level of crash-worthiness of new cars. Another Volvo feature, City Safety, automatically brakes the car in low speed situations (like urban city traffic) if the car in front slows or stops completely. That reduces the consequences of driver inattention.
 
“Drivers using a cell phone tend to drive slower and at a longer headway.”This caption on a slide presented by Dr. William Horrey of the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety could be taken out of context as meaning that cell phone users engage in safer driving behaviors than when they aren’t on the phone. (Headway = following distance.) Other studies do show that drivers will somewhat compensate for being on the phone, reducing its use in heavy traffic for example. But as Dr. Horrey quickly pointed out, the bulk of data showing increased crash risks confirms that driver compensation just isn’t working, especially if things go bad when reaching for a phone or when dialing.  

—Tom Mutchler

For more information on distracted driving see our related reports:
Distracted Driving Summit: The hands-free debate
Defining the problem: Casting a wide net over driver distraction
Automakers agree to ban
Anti-texting video to scare drivers straight
Using wireless communication devices while driving
Cell phone use and driving laws
Dangers of cell phones while driving
Should cell phone use by drivers be illegal?
Texting while driving
Talking in the slow lane