managing driving’s many distractions - wsj · cars are equipped with more technology, such as...

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Cars are equipped with more technology, such as touch-screens and voice-activated programs, which create

more potentially dangerous distractions for drivers. One study of 1,000 drivers shows 33% reported sending a

text. ILLUSTRATION: JASON SCHNEIDER


1 of 5 Managing Driving’s Many Distractions - WSJ

DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION

In testing, volume was kept to between 80 and 90 decibels. He says

subjects were told to turn to whatever station they would normally listen to while driving to work.

Three different selections from books were offered to drivers, who

could choose between ‘The Giver,’ ‘Water for Elephants,’ or ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.’ It is

possible, Dr. Strayer says, to get so engrossed in a story that a driver would miss an exit and or realize

‘wow, I’m in the wrong state,’ he says.

The more heated a conversation is, the more distracting

it can be. Driving with an extra pair of adult eyes on the road is generally a plus. And some experts say that

drivers can perform better when they know someone else is watching.

The person on the receiving end of the call

doesn't necessarily know the caller is driving and misses cues—hence a lot of awkward pauses and

repetition—making the conversation more stilted and distracting than if it were done in person.

Dr. Strayer says that talking hands-free

is just as distracting as talking on hand-held cellphones, despite state laws and car technology that permit

hands-free phone use.

The problem is how error-prone speech-enabled texting

can be. Driver anxiety and distraction shot up when they corrected—and driving became secondary.



OTHER DISTRACTIONS ON THE ROAD

Use cupholders. Hot liquids, spilling, adjusting plastic tops

can all be very distracting. Dr. Strayer says to keep such interactions under 2.5 seconds.

Typically this is done at a stoplight. The danger is getting

caught up and not watching the for the light to turn green.

It is never a good idea to turn around when a car is

moving forward.

Ignore if at all possible. Not only is it safer, but it also

teaches siblings to work out conflict independently.

Addresses are long. It is always best to type an address while the vehicle

is still parked. Some cars don’t allow drivers to type it in while in motion.



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managing driving’s many distractions - wsj · cars are equipped with more technology, such as...

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