Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: So far, so good at local VA clinics ... 5 wildfires to watch ... Perseid meteor shower this week will coincide with new moon ... Our View: So far, so good at local VA clinics ... 5 wildfires to watch ... Perseid meteor shower this week will coincide with new moon ... Dr. Jeff Hersh: Distracted driving Comment By Dr, Jeff Hersh More Content Now MailTribune.com By Dr, Jeff Hersh More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 12:34 PM Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 12:40 PM By Dr, Jeff Hersh More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 12:34 PM Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 12:40 PM » Social News Q: My 17-year-old daughter says talking on her cellphone while driving is not a distraction, and I should stop bothering her about it. What do you think? A: April has been designated Distracted Driving Awareness month, so this is a very timely topic. Distracted driving (DD) is defined as anything that takes the driver’s mind off the primary task of driving, including things that take their attention away from driving, their eyes off the road or their hands away from the steering wheel. This is an issue for all drivers, but has been identified as even more worrisome in teen drivers where almost 60 percent of all accidents they are involved in have some aspect of DD as a contributing cause. There are many common driving distractions, including the car radio/player (changing channels and even singing to the songs), eating/drinking, interacting too much with passengers (whether verbally or physically), self-care (such as applying makeup, dental care, etc.), and reading (whether maps, a navigation system or other reading material); the variety of distractions that have been blamed for accidents is staggering. However, one of the most worrisome distractions is the cellphone; it is called out as a distraction in many accidents, whether because of talking on the phone, texting, emailing or taking pictures. - One survey found that over two-thirds of people 18-65 spoke on their cellphone while driving in the prior month, and one-third admitted to texting or emailing. - At any given daytime moment, over 600,000 drivers are using cellphones or other electronic devices. - Texting is one of the more common distractions; not a surprise when you consider there were over 150 billion texts sent in the U.S. last year. - Studies have shown that sending a text takes the driver’s eyes off the road for five seconds or more. At 60 mph, that is over 400 feet traveled; imagine what could pop-up in the road during that time/distance. Think of this as driving the length of a football field with your eyes shut, because that is essentially what you would be doing. And of course the potential hazards that could occur in five seconds when driving on a winding road are obvious. DD is a huge health issue. There were over 400,000 injuries related to DD last year and over 3,000 deaths (of drivers and passengers in the DD vehicle and in other vehicles involved in the crash, as well as pedestrians, bicycle riders and other victims). Overall, it is estimated that 20 percent of all fatal car crashes have DD as a factor. Ten percent of all fatal crashes where a teenager was the driver had DD as a contributing factor. This is even more pronounced in drivers in their 20s, where almost 30 percent of fatal crashes have DD as a factor. I have personally taken care of a teenage driver who survived a car accident where she was texting; unfortunately her best friend, a front-seat passenger, died. This accident devastated both families, and will likely haunt the surviving teen driver for the rest of her life. So what can be done? Teach your teens to turn off their cellphone before they start the engine. Parents, consider making this a condition of their cellphone use. Data shows that DD is as dangerous as drunken driving; hopefully parents tell their kids not to get into a car being driven by someone who has been drinking, so clearly other DD should be addressed as well. Many states have identified DD as an issue and have enacted laws prohibiting the use of some electronic devices, whether it is a ban on texting while driving or use of a handheld cellphone. Federal employees are not allowed to text while driving a government vehicle. Commercial vehicle operators have been banned from texting while driving, and the Federal Railroad Administration has banned employees from using cellphones and electronic devices completely. Let’s prevent that next “OMG” text from being “did you hear Joe died while texting and driving?” Jeff Hersh, Ph.D., M.D., can be reached at [email protected]. By Dr, Jeff Hersh More Content Now MailTribune.com By Dr, Jeff Hersh More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 12:34 PM Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 12:40 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501