While worrying about replacing your AEM V2 Intake, you might as well worry about this too: A new survey by Nationwide Mutual Insurance shows "Driving While Distracted" (DWD) is quite prevalent among today's drivers and more dangerous than you might think.
Yes, you see them all the time - moms putting on makeup while steering with their knees or elbows, yuppies punching text messages into a phone without ever looking up to check the road ahead, steering a cup of coffee in one hand and talking to the friend in the backseat. Maybe you've even done it yourself. But do you know just how dangerous it is?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted drivers account for almost 80 percent of all crashes in the U.S. As found by Nationwide's survey, even those who perceive themselves as safe drivers admit to doing outlandish things behind the wheel, including changing clothes, balancing a checkbook and shaving.
"We are a nation of people with too much to do and too little time. In fact, more than 80 percent of drivers surveyed identified themselves as multitaskers," said Bill Windsor, associate vice president of Safety at Nationwide. "However, driving requires significant attention. Multitasking while behind the wheel poses a threat to you and your fellow drivers."
According to the survey of 1,200 Americans, 83 percent of those polled believe they are safe drivers and 59 percent don't consider themselves distracted drivers. However, 73 percent talk on cell phones, only 16 percent drive at or below the speed limit, and 38 percent admit they have driven a certain distance without any recollection of doing so.
Here are the key findings:
&bullDWD Generation: Gen Y-ers are the guiltiest of driving while distracted, with 35 percent admitting to always multitasking in the car. 30 percent of Gen X-ers and 21 percent of Baby Boomers confess to the same. Technology is one of the greatest DWD culprits for Gen Y - 37 percent of this age group admitted to texting or IM-ing while driving, as compared to 17 percent of Gen X and 2 percent of Baby Boomers.
&bullService With the Seatbelt On: 62 percent of respondents use drive-thru services at least once a week. Use of drive-thru services varies significantly across generations with 45 percent of Gen Y-ers and 48 percent of Gen X-ers preferring to drive-through as compared to only 28 percent of Baby Boomers.
&bullFast Food Nation: Only food trumped technology in household conveniences drivers would like in their cars with 31 percent wanting a fridge and 29 percent wanting Internet access. Eating habits in cars also varied across generations - 73 percent of Gen Y-ers eat snacks in the car and 48 percent eat full meals. In contrast, 42 percent of Baby Boomers say they don't eat snacks while driving and even more - 71 percent - say they don't eat meals while driving.
&bullGoing ZZZ mph: Nearly three out of four of participants admit to driving while less than alert. To stay awake, 81 percent roll the window down, 79 percent play loud music and 69 percent drink anything with caffeine.
&bullJust Like the Mailman: Snow, sleet or rain doesn't prevent drivers from multitasking in the car. More than a third of those who admit to daydreaming, fixing their hair, talking on their cell phone, sending texts, checking their BlackBerry or reading, say they do it regardless of weather conditions.
&bullRegional Rage: New York is known for its toughness but road rage isn't more common up north. 25 percent of Northeasterners admit to having road rage but so do 26 percent of Southerners and 21 percent of western respondents. Beyond geography, more women than men experience road rage, with Gen Y women having the most road rage.
&bullDisturbing DUI: 5 percent of those surveyed admit they drive drunk. While this number may seem small, it adds up to approximately 60 people - and those are just participants who admitted doing so. 4 percent drive with an open container of alcohol.
"More than half of respondents drive at least one hour a day. Clearly, Americans are on the go but they don't drive nearly as safely as they should," said Windsor. "Even though we have ever-increasing demands on our time and more technology, we need to make an effort, when behind the wheel, to focus on driving."
What exactly do people do behind the wheel? According to the survey, 31 percent of respondents say they daydream; 23 percent experience road rage; 19 percent fix their hair, text or instant message; 14 percent comfort or discipline children; and 8 percent drive with a pet in their lap.
Here are more outrages things that drivers do while behind the wheel:
&bullChanging seats with passengers
&bullReading a book
&bullWatching a movie
&bullWriting a grocery list
&bullNursing a baby
&bullPutting in contact lenses
