New Distracted Driving Study Targets Trauma Surgeons

03 Nov New Distracted Driving Study Targets Trauma Surgeons

Distracted driving is a common cause of car accidents on our roads today.  In 2012, about 421,000 individuals were injured as a result of distracted driving, while 3,328 were killed. This is a number that’s set to increase due to the lack of information on how dangerous this practice really is.

A recent intervention targeting physicians at the University of Arizona set out to sensitize workers on the impact distracted driving has on them was carried out by researchers looking to raise awareness on the use of communication devices such as cell phones.

Three-Part Research

The research was carried out in three parts; the first part involved researchers stationing themselves outside the university’s parking lot in order to observe driver behavior as they pulled out of the hospital. They observed activities such as talking on the phone or texting. Staff members had their identities verified thanks to their hospital passes, badges or scrubs. Incidences of distracted driving were recorded in three intervals over the duration of a week.

For the second phase of the research, the researchers distributed questionnaires which sought to find out how aware physicians were with regard to distracted driving. In addition, they were provided with a five-point educational intervention which sought to explain why using a handheld device while driving is risky. Some of the information on the intervention included facts about how using a cellphone while driving is equivalent to having a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent, a figure that’s in line with legal impairment.

At the same time, the researches distributed banners and flyers at the hospital cafeteria and provided people with brochures which touched on the importance of remaining focused on the road.

The last phase of the research involved the researchers going back to the hospital parking lot and observing respondents once more to determine whether there was a behavioral change after the intervention on distracted driving.  Six months later, they sent respondents a post intervention follow up survey in order to determine whether they learned anything thanks to the exercise.

The Numbers Speak for Themselves

The researchers observed that there was a 60 percent decrease in incidences of distracted driving. In addition, more than half of all respondents had a new understanding on the dangers of distracted driving, while 60 percent agreed to voluntarily stop using their cellphones while driving. On top of that, 50 percent said that they would change their habits on the road. An outstanding 91 percent said that state legislation against distracted driving was the way to go, and 77 percent of those who took part in the survey admitted to being better informed after the exercise.

The NHTSA’s data shows that up to 80 percent of all vehicle crashes happen due to driver inattention 3 seconds leading up to the  accident. This could be attributed to distracted driving. It’s important to note that even activities such as changing radio channels, applying your makeup or engaging in conversations with other car occupants in the car could be considered as distracted driving.

Most People Oblivious of the Dangers of Distracted Driving

For the most part, we are not aware of the dangers that we put ourselves in as a result of distracted driving. Getting into a car accident can change your life, leaving you with catastrophic injuries that may require hospitalization, surgery, a long healing process and rehabilitation. This can put a dent in your finances and cause you to lose out on so much in life. Even though legislation is changing, it’s important to do your part to ensure that this practice becomes a thing of the past on our roads.