Understanding and mitigating the risks of distracted driving

Close-up of hands on a steering wheel inside a car

There can be substantial penalties for distracted driving, including fines of more than CA$2000, loss of demerit points, and even a jail sentence. However, distracted driving is very expansive and goes beyond cell phone use. It is not just the act of holding a device (and taking your hands off the steering wheel), but rather the practice of driving a motor vehicle while engaged in another activity. These distractions result in multiple deaths per day in North America.

On average, it takes a minimum of five seconds to read a text message. This means that there are five seconds when you are not paying attention to driving, during which you have traveled approximately 300 feet (at a rate of 60 kilometers/hour) or on average, one city block. This is a significant number as many accidents involving driver inattention often happen within only three seconds of the crash.

There are three broad categories of distractions, which include:

Visual – “Eyes on the road”
Visual distractions are anything that causes a driver to look at anything other than the road in front of them. These include reading billboard advertisements, looking at scenery, and even viewing electronic infotainment systems within the car itself. With regards to cell phone use, it has been determined that your field of vision narrows, meaning drivers looking out the windshield can miss seeing up to 50% of what’s around them when talking on a cell phone, hands-free or not.
Manual – “Hands on the wheel”
This occurs when the driver takes one or both hands off the steering wheel for any reason, including but not limited to making seat and mirror adjustments, adjusting infotainment controls, eating, drinking and dialing, or texting on their phone.
Cognitive – “Mind on driving”
This refers to mental distractions where the driver’s mind isn’t focused on driving. This is a very large field, and although listed separately, it’s important to note that all visual and manual distractions are also cognitive in nature. A few examples of cognitive distractions would be talking with a passenger, being preoccupied with personal or work-related issues, or even listening to the radio.

To alleviate this issue, it is critical to educate drivers rather than enforce laws, as it is unreasonable to remove all distractions, and vehicles are continuously evolving in the wake of new technology. As was proven with seat belt, drinking, and driving campaigns of the past, education, understanding, and cultural change are more effective than implementing tough penalties.

Below is a list of suggested guidelines that have been implemented by companies with large fleets to mitigate distracted driving losses:

Turn off phone. There is no safe way to make a call when driving, not even hands-free.
Send and read text messages and emails before you start driving.
Schedule breaks to stop, park safely (not on the side of highway) and respond to messages.
Using voice features can also be distracting. Take care of communications before you start driving.
Know where you are going. Program GPS before you start driving.
Social media can wait.
Park in a safe area if you must take a call immediately.
Do not call or text people if you know they are driving.

To mitigate the risks associated with distracted driving, it is crucial to promote awareness, educate drivers about the dangers, and encourage responsible behavior behind the wheel. Implementing strict laws, enforcing penalties, and utilizing technology to minimize distractions can also play a significant role in reducing crashes caused by distracted driving.

As always, please contact your broker or Marsh Advisory representative if you have any questions or concerns.

Understanding and mitigating the risks of distracted driving

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