100 times worse than we thought: Insights from a Zendrive’s 2018 Distracted Driving Snapshot
I won’t say “distracted walking” doesn’t happen, because I’ve seen it and done it a few times myself. The point to remember is that someone like me who is walking “distracted” carries poundage in the hundreds rather than the thousands. Drivers are coddled daily in myriad ways, but the point stays the same: they’re capable of wreaking far greater havoc, and their responsibility is greater, and the law enforcement apparatus should prosecute accordingly.
Do YOU see someone like Keith Henderson doing so? I sure don’t, although perhaps the politicized prosecutor agrees with me on one point: put down your damn device and pay attention.
Driving? Your Phone Is A Distraction Even If You Aren’t Looking At It, by Christie Aschwanden (Five Thirty Eight)
… You can think of driving’s demands as a three-legged stool, requiring eyes on the road, hands on the wheel (not to mention feet on the pedals), and mind on the task. Anything less than all three, and you’re driving impaired.
Most attempts to mitigate the risk of cellphone use while driving have focused on the first two legs. Texting while driving is banned in 47 states, and 16 states prohibit drivers from handheld phone use. But legislative approaches like these don’t address the third leg of the distraction stool. “You can’t do a drug test for cognitive impairment,” said Kyle Mathewson, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Alberta.
Anything that takes the eyes off the road or hands off the wheel is clearly dangerous.
