Study: Distraction behind most car crashes

Associated Press ^ | 4/20/06 | Ken Thomas

[saquin]

I don't think this study is a surprise to any of us who've been on the roads lately (which is probably all of us). It's amazing what people do while driving.

[ConservativeBamaFan]

"Distraction behind most car crashes"

Gee, ya think?!?!?

[I Drive Too Fast]

I wonder if any drivers surf free republic and post while driving.

[onedoug]

Wow! Look at that!

[Snoopers-868th]

Smokers fault

[KevinB]

I wonder how much this study confirming what we've all known since we were sixteen set back us taxpayers.

Wasn't there also a new "men and women are different" study released today? Our tax dollars at work.

[reagan_fanatic]

They needed a study to confirm this?

[Paloma_55]

I would say distraction is "behind" most car crashes, but so are alcohol, drugs, speed and impatience.

As I drive to work, I see people that are clearly distracted, but even worse they are going 15 over the limit, cutting in and out of traffic and the statistics show those who end up crashing are very likely to be intoxicated.

[SouthTexas]

I wonder how much this little tidbit cost us?

[SF Republican]

Couple of years ago in Europe we got behind this small truck weaving all over the place, had a chance so I shot past him, he was reading a book.

[xarmydog]

I worked in a body shop whose owners son picked up parts in a nearby city.I almost was fired because I would not ride with him.He used to read the newspaper!

[Old Professer]

My daughter has been rear-ended 4 times in five years; last night was #4; she is about two months pregnant and went to the ER to have an ultrasound.

Her car was disabled and is awaiting the adjuster for an estimate of damages.

It always seems to happen within a month of my birthday. (Yesterday)

[Loud Mime]

[Sacajaweau]

I always leave my brain at home when I drive since I believe "thinking" (of something besides driving) appears to be the biggest distraction.

[SouthTexas]

THAT is an acceptable distraction!

[showme_the_Glory]

About an hour ago I was almost side swiped by a Rowlett police officer talking on a cell phone and eating at the same time. He almost made me drop my ice cream cone.

[KevinB]

My daughter has been rear-ended 4 times in five years; last night was #4; she is about two months pregnant ...

Saying to myself: "I will behave myself. I will behave myself." :-)

[CGTRWK]

For more than a year, researchers studied the behavior of the drivers of 100 vehicles in metropolitan Washington, D.C. They tracked 241 drivers, who were involved in 82 crashes of various degrees of seriousness - 15 were reported to police - and 761 near-crashes. The air bag deployed in three instances.

The project analyzed nearly 2 million miles driven and more than 43,300 hours of data.

2 million miles in 43,300 hours. An average speed of 46 miles per hour. In the DC area? Study must have been confined to midnight through 5 AM.

One accident per 24,000 miles and a near accident every 2600. That sounds about average.

[wallcrawlr]

Irony...wow, no specific mention of deaf people.

jeepers what a surprise.

[manwiththehands]

Great post. A lot of truth to this article. I can't talk on the cell phone and drive at the same time. Not even with voice command and my Bluetooth headset. I always pull over and call back if it's important. And the one accident I had when it was my fault it was because I was fiddling with my radio. One moment was all it took ... to change the station ... then BAM! (oops! what the?)