Why We Don’t Believe Distracted Driving Data (And Why We Should)

Q: I’ve heard the Traffic Safety Commission talking about how most drivers aren’t driving distracted (something like nine out of ten.) I find that hard to believe. When I look around I see people on their phones all the time. How’d you get those numbers?

A: Before I explain how we got the numbers, let’s consider why you don’t believe them. If it’s any comfort, you’re not alone. Many people, when they hear the statistic that more than nine out of ten drivers are focused on the road, reject the data as somehow flawed.

I’m guilty of it myself. Last week, while in a city I don’t visit often, I walked along the main thoroughfare and thought to myself, “Wow, every driver in this town is on their phone.” To confirm my observation I started counting. After 50 or so vehicles, I counted five drivers that were on their phone or otherwise distracted, roughly in line with the statewide results.

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How Kids Can Help Improve Your Drive

What if I could guarantee you a 47 percent improvement in the quality of your daily commute? Yeah, I can’t do that, but it would be great if I could, right? That doesn’t mean there’s no hope for a better drive, especially if you’re a parent or you regularly have kids in the car with you. No, I’m not suggesting you leave them home 47 percent of the time.

My kids are adults now, but I still remember that not every drive with the kids was perfect. Sure, we had plenty of drives that involved singing songs together and talking about our day, but there were also the ones that involved lines like, “Dad, his hands are on my side of the seat. Make him stop!” Followed by, “No they’re not. I’m touching the center part. That’s no man’s land.” This inevitably resulted in both kids putting their hands in “no man’s land” and literal hand-to-hand combat.

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Distractions from Dogs

Q: Distracted driving is easy to pin on phone usage, but what about little dogs on drivers’ laps? I’ve seen so many situations that can be very dangerous due to dogs between the driver and the steering wheel or hanging out the driver’s window.

A: First the good news: At any given moment, most drivers (about 93 percent in Washington) are not distracted. Right now you’re saying, “Wait a second, there’s no way that’s true.” I know you’re saying that because that, or some variation of it, is what people usually say to me when I share that data.

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Getting a DUI for Talking on Your Phone?

Q: Is it true you can get a DUI for texting or talking on your phone while driving? I’ve heard that people have gotten arrested for it, and that doesn’t seem right.

A: In 2017 Washington legislators overhauled our distracted driving law which, despite being only being ten years old, was already obsolete. Actually, it was obsolete within weeks of being passed. Back in 2007, when our first distracted driving law was written, it prohibited holding the phone to your ear to talk and sending text messages. That seemed reasonable at the time because the only thing you could do with a cell phone was call and text. That all changed with the launch of the iPhone, which came out in, you guessed it, 2007.

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What’s The Risk of Distracted Driving?

Q: What’s the deal with people who wear a mask when they’re driving by themselves in a car, but then they’re texting while driving?

A: Over the past few months I’ve had several people ask me this question, or some variation of it. This morning, as I was walking through my neighborhood I witnessed it myself. I think what prompts this question is a perceived paradox: wearing a mask while driving suggests that you’re concerned about your health, but texting while driving sends the opposite message.

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Where Your Friend Is Matters

Q: Why is it illegal to have a conversation with someone on a phone while driving, but it’s fine to have a conversation with the passenger in the seat next to you? Aren’t they both distracting? And I’m not suggesting that they should make talking to a passenger illegal.

A: Not all conversations are created equally. You already know that’s true after having to sit through listening to Uncle Leonard at Christmas dinner drone on about how he changed the propeller on his boat to a 14 inch stainless steel three-blade with a 21 inch pitch, and with the new Mercury 175 four stroke mounted on the transom he should be able to . . .  Okay, I don’t remember anything after that. But I’m sure he’ll explain it again at the next family get-together.

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Traffic Law vs. Safe Driving – Part 2

Q: Is it legal to text while riding bike on a public road? I saw this yesterday.

A: This seems like a great opportunity for Traffic Law Vs. Best Practice, Episode Two. A few weeks ago we covered several examples of how the law sets a pretty low standard for road user behavior.  Those cases were all for drivers, so this time let’s focus on bike riders. Should you text while riding bike on a public road? No, of course not. That would be ridiculous. Is it legal? Pretty much. I’ll explain.

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Shaving and Baseball

Here’s the third of three distracted driving PSAs in partnership with the Bellingham Bells. You might think this one borders on ridiculous, but admit it, you’ve seen people do some crazy things while driving. The consequences of distraction during a game pale compared to what can happen on the road. Thanks to Jack, Troy and Sam for all being willing to be a little goofy to make an important point.

Selfies and Baseball

Here’s the second of the three distracted driving PSAs with the Bellingham Bells. In this one, third base player Troy Viola has some fun taking a selfie during a ball game. He wouldn’t really let a selfie distract him from winning a game, and he doesn’t let it distract him while driving either.

Texting and Baseball

I got the opportunity to work with some Bellingham Bells players on some distracted driving PSAs. We had fun making them (at least I had fun; I think they did too) and the end result makes a great point – you wouldn’t let yourself get distracted in a game, so why would you let it happen when you’re driving and the consequences could be much worse? Here’s the first one, with Sam Swenson.