How much do you know about distracted driving?

1. Which option is least safe?

Driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08

Driving while talking on a cellphone

Driving while talking on a headset

These options are equally unsafe

According to University of Utah research, using either and handheld phone or a hands-free option delays drivers' reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08, which is the legal limit.

Explanation

According to University of Utah research, using either and handheld phone or a hands-free option delays drivers' reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08, which is the legal limit.

2. Which of these is NOT considered distracted driving by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration?

Eating and drinking

Looking at a map or GPS device

Changing the radio station

Talking to passengers

All of the above are considered distracted driving

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines distracted driving as, "any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving." This includes:

1. Texting
2. Using a cell phone or smartphone
3. Eating and drinking
4. Talking to passengers
5. Grooming
6. Reading, including maps
7. Using a navigation system
8. Watching a video
9. Adjusting a radio, CD player or MP3 player

Explanation

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines distracted driving as, "any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving." This includes:

1. Texting
2. Using a cell phone or smartphone
3. Eating and drinking
4. Talking to passengers
5. Grooming
6. Reading, including maps
7. Using a navigation system
8. Watching a video
9. Adjusting a radio, CD player or MP3 player

3. The number of people killed by distracted driving in a month is equal to the number of people who would be killed if a commercial airliner crashed each month.

True

False

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, 456.2 people are killed by distracted driving each month. Some models of airliners, including some Boeing 747 air crafts, hold this many people.

Explanation

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, 456.2 people are killed by distracted driving each month. Some models of airliners, including some Boeing 747 air crafts, hold this many people.

4. Sending or receiving a text message takes a driver's eyes off of the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. How much ground can a driver going 55 mph cover in that amount of time?

6 yards

1 mile

50 yards

100 yards

According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, a driver can blindly cover the length of an entire football field in the 4.6 seconds it takes to text.

Explanation

According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, a driver can blindly cover the length of an entire football field in the 4.6 seconds it takes to text.

5. The use of a headset is substantially safer than the use of a hand-held device.

True

False

According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the difference in safety between the use of a hand set and the use of a hand held is minute.

Explanation

According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the difference in safety between the use of a hand set and the use of a hand held is minute.

6. Drivers who use hand-held devies are ___ times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves than those who don't use hand-held devices.

Two

Four

Six

Three

Research courtesy of Montash University

Explanation

Research courtesy of Montash University