Texas Driver Safety and Training

For National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, TxDOT launches the "TalkTextCrash" campaign to increase awareness of the dangers associated with distracted driving. It also encourages Texans to put down their cell phone while driving.

Distracted driving proves to be a common, dangerous and completely avoidable. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows the proportion of fatalities involving distracted driving has increased from 10 percent in 2005 to 16 percent in 2009. In fact, 20 percent of injury crashes nationally in 2009 involved some form of distracted driving.

In Texas, the numbers are even higher: every 1 in 4 crashes involves driver distraction as the primary reason, according to the TxDOT. In 2009 alone, over 100,000 vehicles were involved in crashes where distraction was cited. Drivers involved were found to be engaged in other activities, such as conversing on the phone, eating, smoking, fiddling with the dashboard, reaching for something, or taking care of a pet.

According to the NHTSA, at any point during the daylight hours, over 800,000 vehicles in the USA are being driven by someone using a hand-held phone.

The message, as implied by the campaign’s name is simple enough: talk, text, crash.

"Drivers simply do not realize the dangers that are posed when they take their eyes and minds off the road and their hands off the wheel and focus on activities other than driving.," said Carol T. Rawson, P.E., TxDOT's Traffic Operations Division Director. The "TalkTextCrash" campaign reminds Texans of the possible consequences associated with distracted driving. Eliminating distractions and putting away their cell phones will save their life.

The campaign launch may have coincided with Distracted Driving Awareness Month, but they plan to run it through the year. TxDOT simply asks drivers to put away their phones until they reach their destination. Although cell phone use is the big target, eliminating other in-vehicle distractions is also heavily encouraged.

The awareness campaign currently running has spots in print, the radio and on the internet. TxDOT will also be conducting a four-market tour to spread the word about distracted driving. These tours will include a driving simulator that allows users to experience the effects and possible consequences of distracted driving in a controlled environment.

Labels: distracted driving, talktextcrash, texas dot, texting and driving

300-or-so students were issued "tickets" after putting on "drunk goggles" in an exercise conducted in Central Texas College. This was done before the week-long break to emphasize the dangers of distracted driving or drunk driving to students.

Conducted by the CTC Substance Abuse Resource Center, they put the UNITE Aware DUI Simulator to good use. The simulator, allows for students to maneuver a vehicle in a virtual space while emulating the effects of driving under the influence, or driving distracted. Students controlled the vehicle via gas pedals and the wheel.

Most students who tried the simulator ended up getting "tickets" for various driving mistakes, which in real life would translate to dangerous driving situations.

Students were asked to sign a pledge to not text and drive, and they were also given blue thumb rings with “NO TXTING” printed on them, to hopefully carry the message with them.

During the 9 AM to 3 PM activity, the CTC Substance Abuse Resource Center reports that the turnout for this year surpassed the numbers last year. Which is considered a good result --- it means that more and more students, especially teen drivers are willing to learn about driving safety.

Labels: distracted driving, driving under the influence, drunk driving, texting, texting and driving, traffic tickets

Driving a vehicle is a huge responsibility. It is a serious activity that requires focus, skills, and a responsible mind behind the wheel. Brushing up on the rules of the road is as simple as always considering safety first.

When driving your car it is all about keeping the roads safe for you and for other motorists. Here are a few key things to remember when driving:

• Prepare yourself and prep your vehicle. Make sure your vehicle is in proper working condition, and put yourself in the right attitude towards driving: SAFETY. Just before you put the key into the ignition, remember to buckle up with a safety belt, and every time you start the ignition, remember stay calm and be courteous.
• Follow the speed limit and signs. Every driver, before getting their learner's permit is tested on these, but for many drivers if they had to take their Road Rules and Road Signs test again may fail. Test your knowledge on a free practice test to know if you need to brush up on the Road Rules and Signs again.
• Learn how to safely overtake a vehicle or truck. This maneuver is potentially the most dangers move to make in your vehicle. Here is a short video with a great description on how to safely pass another vehicle or truck.
• Eliminate distractions. Make a playlist for your music, eat and text/call your friends ALL BEFORE driving. It's important to remember that driving is about focusing on the road while operating a vehicle. Having other people in the vehicle can already be considered distracted driving. Lessen interaction with other people in the car when driving.
• Be alert. Before you leave the house, check the news for weather/traffic conditions. Be prepared, and make sure you know how to handle situations like slippery roads, or heavy rains in the streets.

If you really wanted to refresh your memory on driving you can complete a defensive driving course online. Remember: when a driver doesn't put safety first, they pay more for it in the end. Stay calm, be courteous and always be alert.

Labels: defensive driving, distracted driving, driver safety, free practice test, vehicle safety

In today's world, there's technology we can have in our cars that could allow us to function there perfectly, such as in-car DVDs and some people have even gone to the extent as to having microwaves in their cars! But when it comes to cell phones, there are more gadgets and gizmos out there than any other in-car accessory on the market. But whether you use hands free kits or not, it's important you know the risks of driving and using a cell phone, hands-free or not.

Amazingly, 83% of teenagers in America admit to talking on their cell phone while driving, and 68% of teens to texting, but only 43% said they were actually confident in their driving ability while talking, even less when it came to texting while driving.

Studies conducted from the University of Utah shows that when young motorists talk on cell phones, their driving suddenly compares to that of very elderly drivers. They move and react a lot slower, and end up increasing their overall risk of accident. A professor from the university described the change as "Instant Aging", 18-25 year olds begin driving like 70 year olds in a matter of seconds.

Whether you're on the phone or hands free, when you're driving it doesn't matter, you could still be putting yourself at risk. If a driver is part of a conversation, on the phone or otherwise, it will often result in problems in driving, whether it's a lapse in concentration, or driver distraction.

Research conducted in 2003 has also recently proved that motorists that talk on cell phones while driving are actually more impaired than drunk drivers. An experiment was conducted using adults aged 18-25 and 65-74 year olds, they were placed in driving simulators and were asked to talk of cell phones. It was found that the 18-25 year olds reacted a lot slower to brake lights from cars in front of them, and other every-day driving obstacles. The 65-74 year olds, were ever slower.

Drivers who speak on cell phones were an incredible 18% slower when breaking, and had a 12% greater following distance. It might not seem like a lot on paper, but when you think about it, it could make a big difference when it comes to stopping in time if a child runs out into the road.

Even in-car conversations with passengers can effect your driving. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to travel in silence, but complex and long conversations can seriously effect driver concentration the longer the conversation continues. Giving road directions can also cause concentration lapses, if you have passengers in the car with you that will be directing you, it's important to make sure they know exactly where they're going themselves, and can let you know early, giving you plenty of time to react to the direction well before you need to commit to it.

Some states in America have banned the use of cell phones while driving, but some haven't yet, it's up to you to make the right decision when it comes to cell phone use in the car. Hopefully you will be sensible and think about the effects of cell phone use and driving, because one day, your actions might not only effect just you.

Labels: cell phones, distracted driving, driving safety, teen drivers, texting