distractions in everyday driving

Distractions in EverydayDriving

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries

through research into their causes and to educate the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries.

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety 607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20005

www.aaafoundation.org202-638-5944

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Distractions Brochure 2014 12/17/13 9:57 AM

Did you know that Americans spend about

one hour and 15 minutes in their vehicles

every day? Unfortunately, people often treat

this as a time to multitask and take care

of other daily activities, from eating dinner

to returning phone calls. With today’s

proliferation of mobile devices, dashboard

technologies, and other tools that provide

easy access to information, entertainment,

and communications, in-vehicle distractions

are increasing – as is the temptation to give

in to them. In fact, drivers spend more than

half their time behind the wheel engaged

in potentially distracting behaviors.

So little time, so many multi-taskers.

If you’re driving your vehicle, you are already

multitasking. At a minimum you are: operating

a piece of heavy machinery at high speed;

navigating across changing terrain; calculating

speeds and distances; and responding to all the

other drivers and obstacles around you. Putting

one more activity in the mix -- even talking to

your passengers or changing a radio station --

can be enough to make you lose control of

your vehicle or fail to respond in an emergency.


Distractions Brochure 2014 12/17/13 9:57 AM Page 3

participants in two states, researchers concludedthat it’s not only the new or high-tech gadgetsthat are creating the biggest distractions. Drivers today are getting distracted by many of the same things that distracted drivers 100years ago -- passengers, things that catch one’s attention outside the vehicle, and objects in the vehicle that move or fall over. Activities like eating and reading are distractions just like high-tech ones, such as text messaging,emailing, or talking on a cell phone.

The younger the passenger, the bigger the potential distraction

Dealing with passengers is one of the most frequently reported causes of distraction.Energetic teen passengers can be particularlydistracting, especially to inexperienced, youngdrivers. Managing children and infants alsorequires special attention. Researchers reportthat kids are four times more distracting thanadults as passengers, and infants are eight times more distracting.

Everyone does it -- and that’s not goodA Foundation study found almost everyone reaches for something, adjusts a control, or getsdistracted at some point while driving, which isone of the reasons distracted driving is such a bigproblem. Driver inattention is a factor in morethan 1 million crashes in North America annually,resulting in serious injuries, deaths, and an economic impact that some experts say reachesnearly $40 billion per year.

Most distractions are nothing newAfter reviewing crash-report data and footagefrom cameras mounted inside the vehicles of study


Different distractions, same resultsQuick quiz: What do eating a hamburger, getting into a discussion, and reading a GPS screen have incommon? Well, if you’re doing any of these thingswhile driving, you become distracted in ways thatincrease your risk of crashing. In fact, distractions come in three forms: visual, manual, and cognitive.

• Visual distractions cause you to take your eyes off theroad. When traveling at 65 mph, if you look at yourGPS for two seconds to check where you are on themap, you’ll have driven two-thirds the length of afootball field before you see the road again. Thatgives you plenty of time and distance to get in a serious crash.

• Manual distractions take your hands off the wheel.When you use one – or even both – of your hands toget that hamburger under control, you risk losing control over something much more important – yourvehicle. You also are greatly slowing your ability torespond to changing or unexpected conditions thatcan occur without warning.

• Cognitive distractions take your mind off the task at hand. Recent AAA Foundation research has foundthat even when drivers keep their eyes on the road

and their hands on the wheel, engaging in mental-ly-distracting tasks (such as talking on a hands-freephone or using a speech-to-text email system) canlead to slowed reaction time, missed visual cues,tunnel vision, and even suppressed activity in theareas of the brain needed for safe driving. In short:“hands-free” doesn't mean “risk-free!”

What about texting?With more and more states banning handheld phone usage and texting while driving, and new technologies being developed to lock keypads andblock other functionality of mobile devices whenyou’re behind the wheel, you may be thinking thatthere’s a big fuss being made about texting. Andyou’re right, because texting while driving combinesall three types of these distractions. When your eyesare reading the screen, your fingers are typing on thekeypad, and your mind is busy crafting a message,you’re not paying attention to driving and you’remore likely to crash – up to 23 times more likely, infact. But remember – although texting while driving is extremely dangerous, it’s by no means the only activity that combines all three potentially lethal types of distraction, and just because something may not be illegal doesn’t mean it’s safe.


habits: Turn your phone off before you drive, soyou won’t be tempted to answer calls on the road.

Plan ahead.Check directions and traffic conditions before you leave, so you'll be prepared for your journey.If you have a GPS, enter your destination in-formation before departing, and pull over to asafe place if you need to make changes or review maps or route guidance. If possible, use a passenger as your navigator and assistant.

Don’t multitask and drive.Driving is complicated enough -- you’ll become distracted if you do other things, too. Don’t usethe vehicle’s mirrors for personal grooming whenthe vehicle is in motion. Don’t try to read or writewhile you’re behind the wheel. Just drive.

Pull over to care for children.Change the baby, feed the kids, and buckle theminto their vehicle seats before you leave. If youneed to attend to them, pull over in a safe place --don’t try to handle children while you’re driving.

Be aware that distraction is a problem that affects YOU.The AAA Foundation’s sixth annual Traffic Safety Culture Index found that nearly 90 percent of motorists rated drivers talking on cell phones as a somewhat or very serious threat to their personal safety, and over 95 percent felt this way about drivers texting or emailing. Yet more than 2/3 of respondents also admitted to talking on a cell phone while driving in the past month, more than 1/3 admitted to reading a text or email in that time, and more than 1/4 admitted to typing or sending a text message or email while driving.

Don’t touch that dial.Adjust seat positions, climate controls, sound systems,and other devices before you leave or while thevehicle is stopped. Know how your controls work,so if you must adjust something on the fly, you’llbe less distracted. Use presets for radio and climatecontrol, or have your passenger assist you.

Stop to eat or drink.Drive-through windows and giant cup holdersmake it tempting to have a meal while driving, but you’re safer when you stop to eat or drink. Reducing your risk will be worth the time you spend.

Pull over to a safe place to talk on thephone, or send text messages or emails.

Cell phones can be a great resource for gettinghelp or reporting trouble. But, whether you use a handheld phone or a hands-free device, talkingwhile driving causes you to take your mind off thetask at hand (and sometimes your eyes and hands,too). Your best bet is to pull off the road to a safe spot before you use your phone to talk, text,or surf the web. Be careful, because stopping onthe road can be very dangerous. Find a safe area away from traffic. Learn how your phone’scontrols work in case an emergency call while driving is unavoidable. And practice good


Help teens identify and reduce distractions.

New drivers face a big challenge behind thewheel; in fact, the Insurance Institute forHighway Safety reports that for every mile they drive, teens are four times more likely to be involved in a crash than other drivers.Additionally, crash risk increases with the number of passengers.

Parents must model safe driving behaviors, and can teach teens to limit distractions and focus on the road.


Per mile driven, teensare four timesmore likely to be involvedin a crash than otherdrivers.


Distractions in EverydayDriving






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How To AvoidDrowsy Driving






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What’s Your Biological Time?

Your body has its own biological clock.

This clock tells you when you’re hungry,

when you’re sleepy, and makes your body

temperature go up and down. Most people’s

clocks run on a daily rhythm of approximately

24 hours -- a “circadian rhythm,” meaning

“about one day.” But what “time” it is varies

from person to person. “Morning people”

feel most alert early in the day, while “night

people” like to stay up late. Teenagers and

young people have clocks that make them

want to go to bed late and sleep late the

next morning. As people get older they

tend to wake up earlier and want to go

to bed earlier.

Night time is very risky for drivers, since sleep

can become an irresistible urge. That urge is

strongest between midnight and six a.m.,

when drivers are especially likely to have

sleep-related crashes. Your biological clock is

also programmed to make you feel sleepy in

the middle of the afternoon, which can be a

dangerous time. Many sleep-related crashes

happen between one and five p.m., during

the “afternoon lull.”

Think about your own biological clock.

What times of day do you feel most alert?

When do you feel drowsy? Do you keep a

schedule that lets you follow your clock?

Knowing this information can help you make

the best use of your time by allowing you to

factor alertness into your planning.


Sleepiness and Driving Don’t MixFeeling sleepy is especially dangerous when you

are driving. Sleepiness slows your reaction time,

decreases awareness and impairs your judgment,

just like drugs or alcohol. People who are very

sleepy behave in similar ways to people who are

drunk. The impact that this has on traffic safety

should not be underestimated. In fact, the AAA

Foundation recently studied the prevalence and

impact of drowsy driving and estimated that 16.5

percent of fatal crashes on the nation’s roadways

involve a drowsy driver.

When I’m driving drowsy, all I need is some caffeine to wake me up.

I can tell when I’m about to fall asleep.

I’m a safe driver so it doesn’t matter if I’m sleepy.

Alcohol can make you sleepy.

I don’t need much sleep.

Being sleepy can lead to making mistakes.

Young people need less sleep.

When I’m driving drowsy, all I need is some caffeine to wake me up. FALSECaffeine can indeed increase alertness, but it’s nosubstitute for sleep. Whether from coffee, tea,soda, or candy, caffeine makes you feel morealert, but takes about 30 minutes to enter yourbloodstream and the effects last only two orthree hours. If you are very sleepy and drink coffee,you can still have “micro-sleeps”-- tiny naps thatlast just a few seconds. At 65 miles per hour, youtravel more than 100 yards in four seconds. Thatgives you plenty of time and distance to crash.Caffeine can be part of your strategy for drivingalert, but it’s not enough by itself.

I can tell when I’m about to fall asleep. FALSESleep is not something you can decide to do ornot do. Everybody who has had insomnia knowsthey can’t make themselves go to sleep. But mostpeople don’t realize they also can’t make them-selves stay awake. In a AAA Foundation study of drivers who fell asleep and crashed, nearly halfsaid they felt only “slightly drowsy” or “not at all drowsy” just before the crash. You can fall

asleep and not know it, and you can't tell howlong you've been asleep. In fact, research hasfound that people need to be asleep for betweentwo and four minutes before 50 percent of them acknowledge that they have, in fact, beensleeping. When you’re driving, dozing for even a few seconds can be fatal.

I’m a safe driver so it doesn’t matter if I’m sleepy. FALSESafe drivers are always alert. They keep their eyesopen and they focus on the road, unlike sleepydrivers. Someone who is a safe driver whenthey’re alert can become dangerous when they’resleepy. In the AAA Foundation's third annualTraffic Safety Culture Index survey of drivers, 41percent admitted to having fallen asleep whiledriving in their lifetime, and more than 1/4 saidthat in the past month they'd driven when theywere so tired they had a hard time keeping their eyes open. Despite this fact, 85 percent ofrespondents said such drowsy driving was "completely unacceptable.”

How much do you know about sleep?

Do you know which of the seven statementsabout sleep are true versus false?

Alcohol can make you sleepy. TRUETo someone who is very tired, one drink feelslike four or five. If you have not had enoughsleep during the week and you are out onFriday night, even one or two drinks can make you dangerously drowsy on the wayhome. When you’re already tired, don’t makematters worse by drinking -- and rememberthat the sleepiness remains, even if the alcohol has worn off.

I don’t need much sleep. FALSE Most people need about eight hours of sleepa night. While some need more and some needless, research shows that getting less than sixhours of sleep is especially risky. If you go tobed late and wake up early, you are buildingup a sleep debt. By the end of the week youcould be dangerously tired and at risk of havinga crash. You can’t overcome the need for sleepwith willpower, and it won’t go away by itself.Sleep is a basic need that plays a vital role inyour body’s health and function. Just like it’scrucial to satisfy your body’s feelings ofhunger and thirst, getting enough rest is ofthe utmost importance. If you do spend eighthours sleeping but still feel tired, or if you

have trouble sleeping, you may have a sleep disorder. Most disorders can be treated; see yourdoctor for a referral to a sleep specialist.

Being sleepy can lead to making mistakes. TRUE When you’re tired your judgment can be impairedand your brain can play tricks on you. You may dothe wrong thing, or you think you have performeda task you have not really completed. A drowsydriver may not realize that the car is going thewrong way onto a divided highway, or that the carahead is about to stop. Everyone, including doctors,police, engineers, and drivers, becomes less competent when they are sleepy.

Young people need less sleep. FALSE In fact, teenagers and young adults need more sleep than older adults. They often get less because they have different sleep schedules thanadults do. Brain chemicals that cause sleep are released later during adolescence, so teens think that being able to stay up late means they don’tneed much sleep. The reverse is true: They actuallyneed around nine hours of sleep a night to be fullyrested. Any less and they could end up drivingdrowsy, even if it’s in the morning on the way to school.

Are you sleep deprived?Millions of people have a serious sleep debt.They can get this debt in many ways – theywork the night shift, hold two jobs, stay uplate, work full-time while going to school, orhave other scheduling problems. But somepeople can spend eight hours in bed and still be tired often because they have unrecognized or untreated sleep disorders.

When your sleep debt gets big enough, thereis nothing you can do to stay awake. Youmight be able to remain alert when you’rebusy or excited, but as soon as it gets quietyour sleep debt takes over and you go tosleep. For example, at a party you might feelperfectly awake, but when you get into yourcar you start to doze. To make matters worse,partygoers often drive when they are tiredand have been drinking – an exceptionallydangerous combination.

Drive Alert ...Arrive Alive!Driving can reveal your true level of sleepiness,especially in the afternoon or at night. Starting atrip feels exciting, but the alertness wears off, let-ting boredom and drowsiness take over. Here aresome suggestions for ways to avoid driving drowsy:

• Don’t drive when you are sleepy. If youbecome sleepy while driving, pull over and take a break.

• Get enough sleep, especially the night before a long trip. Sleeping less than six hours increases your risk of falling asleep atthe wheel; sleeping less than four hours isespecially dangerous. Also, don’t plan to work all day and then drive all night. Researchshows that a driver who has been awake 20 or more hours is at high risk of falling asleep.Travel at times when you are normally awake,and stay over-night rather than driving straight through.

• Travel with a passenger. An alert passenger canwatch you for signs of fatigue. If you have a frontseat passenger, he or she should remain awake.

• Take a power nap. Pull off the road to park in asafe place such as a parking lot or rest area; neverpull over on the shoulder of the road. Be sure topick a well-lit place where your car is visible topassersby. Roll up the windows, lock the doors,and lie back in the driver’s seat for 20 minutes orso. When you wake up, get some exercise andhave some caffeine.

• Schedule a break every two hours or every 100miles. Stop sooner if you become sleepy. If you geta Trip Tik from AAA, ask a travel counselor topoint out good places to stop. Many websites thatprovide directions offer the ability to indicatestopping places along the route.

still has not had enough sleep. Recognizing andtreating sleep apnea is important, as it may beassociated with an irregular heartbeat, highblood pressure, heart attack or stroke.

Other sleep disorders include chronic insomnia, restless legs, and even narcolepsy, in which the sufferer falls asleep without warning during ordinary situations.

Check your symptoms:

• Do you snore loudly?

• Have you been told that you gasp or choke in your sleep?

• Do you spend eight hours sleeping but still not feel rested?

• Do you fall asleep at unusual times, such as at dinner or at work?

• Do you have trouble going to sleep, or wake up in the middle of the night?

These are all potentially symptoms of a sleep disorder. If you have any of them, you may wish to consult a doctor who specializes in sleep medicine.

Danger Signs for Drowsy Drivers

People do not always recognize when they are sleepy. You may feel awake, but if you are tired you could fall asleep at any time. If you have any of the following symptoms of sleepiness, pull off the road as soon as possible and find a place to sleep.

You have trouble keeping your eyes open and focused

You can’t keep your head up

You daydream or have wandering, disconnected thoughts

You yawn frequently or rub your eyes repeatedly

You find yourself drifting from your lane or tailgating

You miss signs or drive past your exit

You feel irritable and restless

You drift off the road and hit the rumble strips

You are unable to remember how far you have traveled or what you have recently passed by

If you have even one of these symptoms, you could be sleepier than you think. When planning your route, identify places where you can nap if the need arises.

If You’re Tired All the Time, You May Have a Problem

A surprising number of people are tired because they have a sleep disorder that has not been diagnosed or treated. Sleep apnea, a common breathing disorder, causes the sleeper’s throat torelax so deeply that breathing stops. The sleepergasps, wakes up briefly, and then goes back to sleep. This process repeats itself, sometimes as many as 20 to 60 times an hour. The result is someone who has been in bed all night but

How To AvoidHeadlight Glare






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If bright headlights and glare bother you

when you drive at night, you’re not alone.

But you don’t need to continue to suffer.

With the right strategies, the right driving

techniques, and the right equipment, you

can learn how to handle nighttime glare

with confidence.

New Lights, Old Problems

Drivers have been complaining about glare

ever since electric headlights began replacing

oil lamps on automobiles more than 100 years

ago. So why does glare seem to have grown

worse? The answer involves technology,

automotive design, and demographics.

Extra Lights

Many vehicles now sport fog lamps or other

auxiliary lights in front. Ideally, fog lamps cast

a low, broad beam to reduce “back-scatter”

from the vehicle’s headlights when water

droplets hang in the air. They’re intended to

improve a driver’s ability to see in foggy, misty,

or hazy conditions. However, when they’re

aimed improperly or used on clear nights,

they can annoy other drivers.

Headlights pointed as little as one degree too high can make a huge difference to oncoming drivers. Misaimed beams also don’tcast as much light on the road, where it is mostneeded. Unfortunately, studies show thatalmost half of the vehicles in states that requireregular inspections had at least one improperly aimed headlight. And, vehicles more than five years old are twice as likely to have off-kilterheadlights as new ones.

High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lights

Introduced in Europe in 1996, HID lights areshowing up on more cars in the United States,especially upscale models. Unlike conventionalbulbs, HID headlights don’t have filaments.Instead, they use a high voltage electrical arc to ionize xenon gas and make it glow. HIDlights emit twice the light of halogen head-lamps, but also produce a blue-white light.Other headlights look yellow by comparison.

Whether you love HID lights or hate themdepends on which side of the light you’re on.Drivers with HID lights swear by them, whileother drivers swear at them. Many motoristswho are faced with HID lights find the amountof light and its blue-white quality blinding. In fact, a Foundation study surveyed driverswhose cars were equipped with HID headlightsto determine how much glare their headlampswere causing for other drivers, and nearly 1 in 5reported at least occasionally receiving highbeam flashes from other drivers. The type ofheadlamp light source (HID vs. non-HID) was a significant predictor of receiving highbeam flashes.

Higher Lights

Although no headlights can exceed the 54-inchheight limit set by federal safety standards, many larger vehicles - such as light trucks andsport utility vehicles (SUVs) - ride higher thancars. As a result their headlights often ride higher, too, leading to many complaints from car drivers that the lights on SUVs and pickuptrucks shine directly into their eyes.

Off-Kilter Lights

While you’re at it, clean your wiper blades witha paper towel dipped in windshield washerfluid. This removes grime and oxidized rubberfrom the edge of the blade and helps preventstreaking. If streaks persist, you need new bladerefills available from any auto parts store or discount chain.

Have chips or cracks in the windshield repairedimmediately. Often a trained glass repair technician can fill small damaged areas withspecial resin -- a fast, inexpensive process thatnot only improves visibility but also preventsthe crack or chip from growing and requiring a windshield replacement.

Your Eyes Like beauty, glare is often in the eye of thebeholder. Drivers middle-aged and older aremore sensitive to glare than younger driversbecause their eyes take longer to adjust tochanging light levels. For example, a 55-year-old takes eight times longer to recover fromglare than a 16-year-old. As the populationages, the number of older drivers will continueto rise as will the number of complaints aboutglare. Lighter-colored eyes are more sensitive,which means the lighter your eyes are the moreglare will bother you. Certain other conditions,such as having had vision-correction surgerythat affects the corneas, may also increase your sensitivity to glare.

Prepare to Fight GlareEven before you hit the road, prepare yourselfand your vehicle for combating the bright lights ahead.

Clean Your HeadlightsWhen you clean your windshield, be sure toclean your headlights, too. Even a thin layer ofroad grime on lenses can block up to 90 percentof the light and severely restrict your ability to see at night.

Clean lenses are even more important if youhave HID headlights. Dirt diffuses the light from HID lights and causes glare that can temporarily blind other drivers, so headlight-cleaning systems are standard equipment onmany cars with HID lights. Using the headlightcleaners regularly becomes a matter of“enlightened” self-interest for you; when you reduce glare for oncoming drivers youimprove your own safety as well. After all,everybody shares the same road.

Keep All Glass Clear and Clean

Streaks, smudges, and road grime on your windowscatch and refract light. This includes the insideof your windshield. Chemicals from the plasticin your car’s interior slowly build up on theglass, until pretty soon you’re looking at thewindshield, not through it. Scratched eyeglassesor contact lenses also make glare worse.

For maximum glare prevention, keep every surface between your eyes and the road as clear as possible -- including both sides of yourwindshield and your eyeglasses. Clean the windows both inside and out at least once amonth to get rid of haze.

Aim Headlights CorrectlyIf you live in a state that requires regular safety inspections, ask the technician to checkand correct the aim of your headlights. If yourstate doesn’t require such an inspection, takeyour vehicle to an auto mechanic, dealer orother properly equipped repair shop at leastonce a year for a headlight checkup. Your properly aligned headlights will help you seebetter, and will help other drivers avoid glare.

Adjust Both Outside MirrorsProperly aligned mirrors not only reduce blind spots, they also reduce glare from vehicles behind you.

AAA recommends the following method: While sitting in the driver’s seat, lean to the leftand tilt your head until it rests against the window.From that position, adjust the driver’s side mirror so you can just see the left rear corner of the vehicle. Next, while sitting in the driver’sseat, lean to the right and tilt your head untilit’s in the center of the vehicle. From that positionadjust the passenger-side mirror so that theright rear corner of the vehicle is just visible.

Now when cars pass you, you’ll notice that yourmirrors don’t direct the brightest part of theheadlights into your eyes. You’ll also notice thatthe arrangement reduces blind spots and makesit easier to spot vehicles to the side and rear.

Have Your Vision Checked Regularly The American Optometric Association recommends comprehensive eye exams everytwo years for persons age 60 and younger, and annually for those 61 and older. Age makes eyes more sensitive to glare, but certainmedical conditions, such as encroachingcataracts will increase the problem. If the problem is detected early, your eye care professional can recommend effective treatment.

Behind-the Wheel TipsAvert Your EyesWhen oncoming vehicles shine light directlyinto your eyes, look down and to the right.Turn your gaze to the white line on the rightside of the road, or to where pavement meetsshoulder, until the vehicle goes by. You can still see the vehicles around you with yourperipheral vision, but the glare won’t botheryou as much because you are not using themost light-sensitive part of your eyes.

Learn to Use Your Mirror’s “Night” SettingAll cars have “day/night” interior mirrors toreduce reflected glare from vehicles directlybehind you. You can change the mirror to its“night” setting by flipping the small lever atthe bottom of the mirror. This changes theangle of the reflective surface and appears to dim the mirror. Lights will show up in theglass, but they’re much less bright and not so bothersome.

Use Your Lights CourteouslyIn fog, use only your low-beam headlights; high beams reduce your own ability to see andmay temporarily blind other drivers. If your carhas fog lamps, only use them if there is fog and in conjunction with your low beams. Avoidusing your high beams when you see oncomingvehicles or when you drive in urban areas.

Take Frequent Breaks If you’re driving at night for a long time, stopoften to reduce fatigue and give your eyes achance to recover. Take a short nap, or at least a brisk walk and some caffeine to help you stay alert.

These simple, but surprisingly effective techniques will help you fight glare:

The right strategies, driving techniques, and equipment will help you handle nighttime glare with confidence.

Things to AvoidUsing “Night Driving”GlassesSome retailers offer special, tinted glasses thatsupposedly block the wavelengths of lightresponsible for most troublesome glare.Unfortunately, no matter what the color, theseglasses also reduce the amount of light thatreaches your eyes, and you need light to see.While these glasses may reduce glare, they alsoreduce your night vision overall.

Wearing Sunglasses at NightEye care professionals warn against wearingsunglasses at night, and they should also not beworn while driving in tunnels, parking garages,or other poorly-lit areas. They not only restrictyour night vision but eventually, as your eyesget used to them, they become inadequate for daytime protection.

Installing Imitation HID HeadlightsThose who envy the HID headlights on upscale cars often fall for the fake HID lights offered by some manufacturers as replace-ments. Even though they may have a “xenon”or “blue” in their names, they’re often justordinary halogen headlights that have beengiven a blue tint. Because of the added coloringthey may actually provide less light than regularbulbs. If you must replace your headlights,don’t buy cheap, imitation HID lights; consider using the lights recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.

Extra Glare ProtectionIf glare still bothers you after prepping your car and yourself for night driving and trying the techniques previously mentioned, considerthese strategies:

Anti-Reflective Eyeglass CoatingMany eye care professionals strongly recommend glasses with an anti-reflective (AR)coating. This ultra-thin film, made from zirconand silicon, reduces internal reflections in thelenses. Unlike sunglasses or self-darkening lenses, which block some light, AR-coated glasses actually transmit more light -- about 8percent more. This improves vision at night andhelps distinguish fine details during the day.Highway patrol troopers have reported betternight and day vision and reduced nighttimeglare with AR-coated lenses. These lenses may help you too.

Self-Dimming MirrorsMany upscale cars now offer self-dimming mirrors that reduce glare but allow you to maintain excellent rearward visibility. As glare becomes brighter, the mirrors becomedarker; as glare diminishes, the mirrors lightenup. These mirrors are available from some dealers and automobile parts stores. If you’reparticularly sensitive to reflected glare, considergetting self-dimming mirrors, either as replacements for your current mirrors or as equipment on your next car.

If All Else FailsDrivers with vision problems may find that even these techniques don’t help. In that case,consider driving less at night, or restricting your travel to routes that have good overheadroadway lighting and clear, well maintainedpavement markings.


The Older And Wiser Driver





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Older Wiser 2013 3/20/13 2:54 PM Page 1

Sharpening Your Driving Skills

Aging is inevitable, but growing older

doesn’t have to mean giving up an active life.

While aging does impose physical limitations,

many people achieve their greatest successes

later in life. For example, businessman Henry

M. Leland founded the Cadillac Automobile

Company when he was 59 years old. A few

years later he left that company and started

Lincoln Motor Company at the age of 74.

Traffic safety is vital for drivers of all ages,

but older drivers experience physical changes

that can affect driving ability -- changes in

vision, reaction time, and flexibility. While

older drivers as a group do have more crashes

than people in their 40s, their individual safety

records differ as much as those of any group.

Here are some things all drivers should pay

attention to, but which are more likely to

affect older drivers.



VisionAs everyone over 40 knows, eyes change with age, and usually not for the better. Physically, the eye’s lenses lose the ability to change focus quickly, peripheral vision narrows, and the retina becomes less sensitive to light. The amount of light needed to drive roughly doubles every 13 years. A 45-year-old requires four times as much light as a 19-year-old, and a 60-year-old requires 10 times as much. Since 90 percent of decisions made while driving are based on information acquired through the eyes, good vision is crucial to safe driving.

Get regular eye exams.The American OptometricAssociation recommends comprehensive eye exams every two years for persons age 60 and younger, and annually for those 61 and older. Cataracts are common and can be corrected with surgery; the progress of many other eye problemscan be slowed if they are detected in time.

If you have trouble with night vision or glare, limit driving to daytime hours.

Turn your head frequently to compensate for diminished peripheral vision.

Keep headlights, mirrors, and windshields clean – including the glass inside the car.

Add a larger rearview mirror to increase the range of visibility.

Keep your eyes up – look at the road ahead to see trouble before you reach it. In the city look at least one block ahead; on the highway look at the section of the road you’ll reach in 20 to 30 seconds.


Cognition

While older minds may be just as sharp as

younger ones, they react more slowly. Age

lengthens the time it takes the brain to

process information and also makes it harder

to ignore distractions. Reacting to a situation

while driving involves three steps: sensing,

deciding, and acting. For an older driver,

each step takes longer – and possibly so

long that it becomes dangerous. Here are

some ways to help compensate for the natural

tendency to need more time to act:

Leave more room in front of the car.

Allow a greater distance between you and

the vehicle ahead, so you’ll have plenty of

time to stop.

Avoid left turns if you are uncomfortable

making them. You can sometimes make three

right turns to avoid having to make a left.

If you must turn left, pay extra attention to

the speed of the cars coming toward you.

Make sure you have enough time and space

to safely cross oncoming traffic before turning,

and watch for pedestrians who might force you

to stop before you can safely complete your turn.

Eliminate distractions, such as the radio or cell

phone. If people in the car are distracting you,

tell them they’ll have a safer ride if they’re quiet.

Plan to go over your route ahead of time, so you

won’t reach an intersection and have to make a

last-minute decision about which way to turn.

If freeways are confusing or feel too fast-moving,

use side roads. By the same token, if rush hour

is stressful, limit your driving to slower times of

day or use public transportation.

SENSING • DECIDING • ACTING


MedicationMedications can interfere with driving by making the driver drowsy or distracted. Thisincludes many over-the-counter medications,such as decongestants or cold remedies. Someof the worst offenders include tranquilizers,pain pills, sleep medicines, antidepressants,cough medicines, and antihistamines.

Read the fine print. If a medication you’re taking is labeled “Do not use while operatingheavy machinery,” let someone else drive.

Inform your doctor about what non -prescription medication you are taking. This includes alcohol, which can interact withsome drugs and cause serious side effects.

Discuss your medication and its effects with your doctor or pharmacist.

Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist yourmedication, its effects, and how it interactswith any other drugs you may be taking.

If any medication makes you feel sleepy or disoriented, don’t drive.

FitnessDriving is a physical activity, and a driver whogets no physical exercise may not have thestrength, flexibility, or coordination to operatea vehicle safely. Even simply taking a briskwalk every day may help make you a safer driver.

Stay physically fit. Walk for at least 20 minutes five times a week or the equivalent.Gardening, golf, tennis, and other sports canalso help keep you in good physical shape.

Stay mentally active. Using your problem-solvingskills to do jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, or othernon-driving activities can help keep your mindactive and engaged in ways that may help youbehind the wheel. Learning a new skill or hobbyis fun at any age, and helps keep your mind flexible.


When to StopA driver’s chronological age is not a good predictor of driving ability. What counts on theroad is performance and both physical and mental fitness. Here are a few of the signs of diminishedcapacity for driving safely:

• Having a series of minor accidents or near crashes

• Having wandering thoughts or being unable to concentrate

• Being unable to read ordinary road signs

• Getting lost on familiar roads

• Having other drivers honk at you frequently

• Being spoken to about your driving by police, family, and friends

Getting Additional HelpMany driver refresher courses are offered in localcommunities. These courses can update you onchanges in traffic laws, signs, signals, and mark-ings, and offer safe driving tips. Some also offeractual behind-the-wheel assessments, which canbe especially helpful in sharpening your drivingskills. Behind-the-wheel assessments are alsooffered by some physical rehabilitation specialists;these can be very important when one’s drivingabilities have been affected by a stroke or otherserious ailment. Contact your local AAA Club to locate the class nearest you.

Know Your LimitsBeing a safe driver means more than avoidingcrashes. It also means paying attention to roadconditions and being aware of your own changing abilities. Just a few simple adjustments,such as limiting your driving to certain times oradding an extra-wide mirror, can help protect you and those around you from deadly crashes.

By adhering to these simpleguidelines you, too,can remain an olderand wiser driver!

And remember --always wear yoursafety belt!



Over the Edge and Back

What to do if you drive

off the pavement edge

Pavement edge drop-off is a common safety

hazard, and is particularly dangerous if the

difference in height between the pavement

and the adjacent surface is two inches or more.

Drop-offs can result from broken pavement,

erosion of an unpaved shoulder, inadequate

maintenance, or the resurfacing of a travel

lane but not its adjacent shoulder.

You may be caught by surprise... suddenly

you feel one or two of your tires drop off

the pavement.

If you do drive off the pavement and do

not know the recommended recovery

technique, you could lose control of your

vehicle and crash into a tree or other object

alongside the road, crash into another

vehicle on the road, or even roll over.

Although relatively infrequent compared

to other types of crashes, pavement edge

drop-off crashes are over twice as likely

to be fatal relative to other crashes on

similar roads.


Pavement edge drop-off

“ Pavement edge drop-off crashes are over twice as likely to be fatal relative to other crashes on similar roads.”

You may drive, or be forced, off the road for any

number of reasons, so it’s good to know what

to do—and what not to—if it happens. It’s not

about returning to the road quickly; it’s about

returning to the road safely.

Follow these steps:

IF THE SHOULDER IS WIDE ENOUGH AND YOUR PATH IS CLEAR

Continue to look at the road ahead. Drive all

the way onto the shoulder. Gradually stop

and “collect yourself.” Wait for a large gap in

traffic, and then drive back onto the road.

IF YOU CAN’T DRIVE ALL THE WAY ONTO THE SHOULDER AND STOP

Continue to look and steer straight ahead.

Do not try to steer back onto the road

immediately—this can cause you to lose

control of your vehicle and crash. For example,

if you’re driving at a high speed and you

suddenly steer sharply, you may accidentally

drive into oncoming traffic. Moreover, if your

tires are close to the pavement edge and you

attempt to drive back onto the road, they may

“scrub” against the edge rather than surmount

it. This makes it very difficult to drive back onto

the road, and you are at risk of overcorrecting,

losing control, and crashing into another

vehicle or roadside object.

What to do if you drive off the pavement edge

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IF THERE ARE NO OBSTACLES DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU

Steer to “straddle” the pavement edge.

Move the tires that are off the road away from

the pavement edge, and then steer parallel

to it. This will prevent your tires from

scrubbing. Most importantly, continue to

look at the road ahead.

DO NOT SLAM ON THE BRAKES!

Ease off the gas pedal. If you need to brake,

brake very gently. If you brake hard while your

tires are on different surfaces, this can cause

your vehicle to skid.

SLOW DOWN GRADUALLY

Slowing down will help you get back onto the

road without losing control. If there are no

obstacles in front of you, slow down to 25 mph

or less before mounting the pavement.

TAKE SOME TIME TO “CALM DOWN”

If you have room, drive all the way off the road

and as far onto the shoulder as possible to stop.

WAIT UNTIL IT’S SAFE

After you’ve slowed down or stopped, wait

until there is a gap in traffic. Do not try to drive

back onto the road if there is any traffic in your

lane, or an adjacent or oncoming lane. When

the road is “all clear,” turn the steering wheel

about one-quarter turn to the left. Drive back

onto the pavement. When all of your tires are

on the pavement, steer back to the right

to stay in your lane.

CALL FOR HELP

If you cannot safely return to the roadway,

drive as far off the pavement as you can,

come to a gradual stop, and call for help.

SCRUBBING: If you drive too close to the pavement edge, tire scrubbing will make it difficult to return to the road.

STRADDLING: Steer to straddle the pavement edge, moving the outer tires away from the drop-off.

QUARTER TURN: Turn the steering wheel about one-quarter turn to the left and drive back onto the pavement.

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STOCK #850 ©2013AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20005www.aaafoundation.org

202-638-5944

AAAFTS

AAAFTS





AAAFTS

AAAFTS



Aggressive driving is a major concern of the

American public and a real threat to the safety of

all road users. In a survey conducted by the AAA

Foundation, nearly 9 in 10 respondents said they

believed aggressive drivers were a “somewhat”

or “very serious” threat to their personal safety.

This same survey found that a substantial number

of drivers admitted to engaging in potentially

aggressive behaviors, such as traveling more than

15 mph above the speed limit, or running a red light.

Any unsafe driving behavior, performed deliberately

and with ill intention or disregard for safety, can

constitute aggressive driving. In fact, a Foundation

study found that potentially aggressive actions –

such as tailgating, erratic lane changing, or illegal

passing – are a factor in up to 56% of fatal crashes.

In extreme cases, this may escalate to road rage,

which is a violent criminal act involving an intention

to cause physical harm. A separate AAA Foundation

study looked at more than 10,000 road rage

incidents committed over seven years, and found

they resulted in at least 218 murders and another

12,610 injury cases. When drivers explained why

they became violent, the reasons were often trivial:

“She wouldn’t let me pass,” “They kept tailgating

me,” or, as this driver accused of attempted murder

explained, “He practically ran me off the road – what

was I supposed to do?”

By using the tips in this brochure,you can avoid becoming a victim. In the process you may find thatdriving has become a completely newand more enjoyable experience.


How can you avoid being thevictim of an aggressive driver?

Gestures.Almost nothing makes another driver angrier than an obscene gesture. Keep your hands on the wheel.Avoid making any gestures that might anger anotherdriver, even “harmless” expressions of irritation likeshaking your head.

Be a cautious and courteous driver. Signal every timeyou merge or change lanes, and whenever you turn.Use your horn rarely, if ever. If you and another driversee a parking space at the same time, let that personhave it. And if another driver seems eager to get infront of you, say “Be my guest.” When you respondthis way, after a while “be my guest” becomes yourautomatic response and you won’t be as offended by other drivers’ rudeness.

Here are three basic guiding principles that can help:

1. Don't offendWhen surveys ask drivers what angers them most,the results are remarkably consistent. A few specific behaviors seem unusually likely to enrage

other drivers. You can protect yourself by avoiding them:

Cutting off.When you merge, make sure you have plenty of room.Use your turn signal to show your intentions beforemaking a move. If you make a mistake and accidentallycut someone off, try to apologize to the other driverwith an appropriate gesture. If someone cuts you off,slow down and give them room to merge into your lane.

Driving slowly in the left lane.If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass,move over and let them by. You may be “in the right”because you are traveling at the speed limit --- but youmay also be putting yourself in danger by making drivers behind you angry. In many states and provincesthe law requires you to travel in the right lane and usethe far left lane only for passing. Besides, it’s simplecourtesy to move over and let other drivers by.

Tailgating.Drivers get angry when they are followed too closely.Allow at least a two-second space between your car andthe car ahead. [When you see the car pass a fixed point,you should be able to count at least “one-thousand,two-thousand” before you pass that point.]

If you think another car is driving too slowly and youare unable to pass, pull back and allow more space, not less. That way if the car does something unexpectedyou will have time to get out of the way.

You should be able to see the headlights of the carbehind you in your rear-view mirror. If you feel you are being followed too closely, signal and pull over to allow the other driver to go by.

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Don't engageOne angry driver can’t start a fight unlessanother driver is willing to join in. You can protect yourself against aggressive drivers by

refusing to become angry at them. Orator RobertIngersoll said, “Anger blows out the lamp of themind.” When angry, a person can do things they maylater regret. If you’re tempted to retaliate againstanother driver, think: “Would I want to fly in an airplane whose pilot was acting like this?” Thinkabout what kind of a crash your angry actions couldcause. Then cool down and continue your trip.

Steer clear.Give angry drivers lots of room. A driver you may haveoffended can “snap” and become truly dangerous. If the other driver tries to pick a fight, put as muchdistance as possible between your vehicle and theother car, and then get away as quickly as possible.Do not under any circumstances pull off to the sideof the road and try to settle things “man to man.”

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phone, use it to call the police. Otherwise, drive to aplace where there are people around, such as a policestation, convenience store, shopping center, or even a hospital. Use your horn to get someone’s attention.This will usually discourage an aggressor. Do not getout of your car. Do not go home.

Adjust your attitudeThe most important actions you can take to avoid aggressive driving take place inside your head. By changing your approach to

driving, you can make every trip more pleasant. Try these ideas for a pleasant change:

Forget winning.For too many motorists, driving becomes a contest. Do you allow the shortest possible time for a trip andthen race the clock? If something happens to slow youdown do you get angry? The solution: Allow more timefor your trip. You’ll be amazed at how much morerelaxed you feel when you have a few extra minutes.So instead of trying to “make good time,” try to“make time good.” Listen to soothing music or a book on tape. Practice relaxation techniques, such asdeep breathing. You’ll arrive much calmer, fresher, and in a less stressed-out frame of mind.

Put yourself in the other driver’s shoes. Instead of judging the other driver, try to imagine whyhe or she is driving that way. Someone speeding andconstantly changing lanes may be a volunteer fireman,or a physician rushing to a hospital. Someone who jerksfrom one lane to another may have a bee in the car ora crying baby. Whatever their reason, it has nothing todo with you. Stay cool and don’t take other drivers’actions personally.

If you think you have a problem, ask for help.Courses in anger management have been shown toreduce heart attacks. These same techniques can alsohelp angry drivers. Drivers who successfully “reinvent”their approach to the road report dramatic changes in attitude and behavior. Look for anger managementcourses in your area. Self-help books on stress reductionand anger management can also be helpful.

Avoid eye contact. If another driver is acting angry with you, don’t makeeye contact. Looking or staring at another driver canturn an impersonal encounter between two vehiclesinto a personal duel. And once things get personal,the situation can get out of hand fast.

Get help.If you believe the other driver is following you or istrying to start a fight, get help. If you have a cell

distractions in everyday driving

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