Distracted driving is the umbrella term used to describe a situation in which a driver's attention is diverted from the road and the vehicle. Although cell phone use is a primary cause of distracted driving, there are plenty of other ways for it to occur: talking to other passengers in the car, changing radio stations, using a GPS, extracting maps from the glove compartment - the list goes on.
Distraction.gov identifies three types of distracted driving:
Visual: A distraction that causes the driver to look away from the road, such as a car wreck on the side of the road or someone else in the vehicle.
Manual: Distractions that require removing the hands from the wheel, such as changing CDs on the car stereo or reaching for a beverage.
Cognitive: Psychological distractions that draw the driver's attention from his task, such as road rage or pondering an argument with a friend.
In New York, distracted driving is considered such an important issue that the legislature has proposed a bill to combat it. Bill number A09802 proposes elevating the "use of a portable electronic device while driving" from a secondary offense to a primary offense. This means that law enforcement officers can pull over a driver who is using a cell phone but not committing any other violations.
A09802 would also add a segment on cell phone safety to the pre-licensing course given by the Department of Motor Vehicles in New York. If A09802 passes, the state will be taking the issue of cell phone use in the car much more seriously and, in addition to punishing offenders, provide education so that drivers understand the dangers of talking on their cell phones.
As mentioned above, cell phones are not the only cause of distracted driving, but it has certainly brought the issue to the attention of state governments as accidents involving cell phones continue to occur. In addition to talking on cell phones, texting has also become a dangerous activity when behind the wheel.
Some states have adopted laws regarding cell phone use for drivers, but limit those laws to drivers who do not use hands-free devices to talk. However, according to Distraction.gov, some studies indicate that hands-free devices are just as dangerous as talking on a physical cell phone because of cognitive distraction.
New York and other states have been proactive in developing laws to combat distracted driving, and more states are expected to follow suit. It seems unlikely that any law can eliminate the issue entirely, especially when it comes to cognitive distraction. However, state and federal interest in the issue indicate that progress is being made.
