The top 15 driving distractions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 03-24-2003, 03:14 PM

The top 15 driving distractions are:

1. Rubbernecking (looking at a crash, vehicle, roadside incident, or traffic): 16 percent
2. Driver fatigue: 12 percent
3. Looking at scenery or landmarks: 10 percent
4. Passenger or child distraction: 9 percent
5. Adjusting radio or changing CD or tape: 7 percent
6. Cell phone: 5 percent
7. Eyes not on the road: 4.5 percent
8. Not paying attention, daydreaming: 4 percent
9. Eating or drinking: 4 percent
10. Adjusting vehicle controls: 4 percent
11. Weather conditions: 2 percent
12. Unknown: 2 percent
13. Insect, animal, or object entering or striking vehicle: 2 percent
14. Document, book, map, directions, or newspaper: 2 percent
15. Medical or emotional impairment: 2 percent

Fascinating facts:

* Fully 62 percent of the crashes involving driver distraction occurred in rural areas.
* Top distractions in rural areas were driver fatigue, insects, animals, and unrestrained pets.
* Top distractions in urban areas were rubbernecking, traffic, other vehicles, and cell phones.

rickg · #2 03-24-2003, 03:19 PM

I wish #1 on the list was cause for a ticket, even if you don't get into an accident. The police should hold up a sign at accident sights saying:
"Mind your own damn buisness and keep your eyes on the road"

rickg · #3 03-24-2003, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TANK
OMG YES Rickg! You can be delayed hours getting to your destination by some dufus gauking. When we do get up to the accident the person in front of me suddenly has 100 yds between him and the next car. What is he doing?? Head tilted/turned to the left or right, in the direction of the accident WITH the brakes applied! Each person that does this continues the enormously compounding time waster and disregards everyone behind. I LAAAAYYY on that horn!!! Get your butt moving!!!(sp0ck would never do that)lol.

I need a more agressive horn in the Benz. If I use the pitiful thing it came with, people are more inclined to just laugh

There's a stretch of freeway near me that's always backing up because of all the on/off ramps, but the backups are usually because of either an accident that has already been moved out of the way, or is in the other side of the freeway. You get up there, expecting a lane to be blocked, and it's freekin wide open

Maybe a 50cal mounted on the hood would get these morons moving

jeffwolinski · #4 03-24-2003, 03:59 PM

In the horrendous DC area traffic, rubber-necking is probably the number one cause of traffic jams.

I never cease to be amazed and infuriated by the huge logjams created by a policeman with a driver pulled over. HE'S TOO BUSY TO GIVE YOU A FRIGGING TICKET - MOVE YOUR A$$!!!! Most amazing of all is the huge backups that this causes on the OPPOSITE side of the DIVIDED highway. Idiots!

BENZ-LGB · #5 03-24-2003, 04:18 PM

A few years ago I was stuck in traffic on the 405 freeway (Los Angeles, LAX-bound). I was fuming and cursing the rubber-neckers ahead of me until I found the cause for the slow dfown...

A drop dead gorgeous blonde, in the tiniest of tiny skirts, trying to change a flat tire on a late model white SL500.

The sight was so unreal that I kept looking around, fully expecting somone with a "candid camera" to pop out.

I am ashamed to admit it, but I too slowed down to gawk.

rickg · #6 03-24-2003, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BENZ-LGB
A few years ago I was stuck in traffic on the 405 freeway (Los Angeles, LAX-bound). I was fuming and cursing the rubber-neckers ahead of me until I found the cause for the slow dfown...

A drop dead gorgeous blonde, in the tiniest of tiny skirts, trying to change a flat tire on a late model white SL500.

The sight was so unreal that I kept looking around, fully expecting somone with a "candid camera" to pop out.

I am ashamed to admit it, but I too slowed down to gawk.

Ok!

We'll make that ONE exception

Freestyler · #7 03-24-2003, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BENZ-LGB
A drop dead gorgeous blonde, in the tiniest of tiny skirts, trying to change a flat tire on a late model white SL500.

..And you drove on..!? Jeez..

Freestyler (who properbly would have caused even more traffic-jam trying to pull over to help this friendly looking lady

)

P.S. To stay on topic.. I can't, for the love of god, understand why a traffic accident causes traffic jam in the OPPOSITE lanes of the highway. -But it sure does.
Apparently people let go of the gas when they're looking away from the car in front of them. This multiplies down the line..

jeffwolinski · #8 03-24-2003, 08:54 PM

495 is atrocious, but route 66 is even worse if you can believe it. What is really amazing about this is that 495 has a long series of crazy turns while 66 is absolutely straight as an arrow. I just cannot comprehend why people cannot drive in a straight line at a reasonable rate of speed, but I often cruise around 495 at a decent pace only to slow to a crawl on 66.

The biggest problem with 66 is the unbelievable growth taking place west of DC. It really boils down to too many cars and too little road. I always try to avoid these parking lots from 6:30 to 9:30 AM and 3:00 to 6:30 PM.

The Guy · #9 03-24-2003, 10:15 PM

TLJ can be a distraction...

CJ · #10 03-24-2003, 10:25 PM

Hey watch out, there is a police car!!!

#11 03-24-2003, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffwolinski
In the horrendous DC area traffic, rubber-necking is probably the number one cause of traffic jams.

I never cease to be amazed and infuriated by the huge logjams created by a policeman with a driver pulled over. HE'S TOO BUSY TO GIVE YOU A FRIGGING TICKET - MOVE YOUR A$$!!!! Most amazing of all is the huge backups that this causes on the OPPOSITE side of the DIVIDED highway. Idiots!

I suppose you also drive a lot on the GW Parkway?

#12 03-24-2003, 11:12 PM

Those dang beautiful women that never cease to distract!!

drbrandini · #13 03-24-2003, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TANK
Majority of accidents occur withing a couple miles of the house.

I can fix that...I'll just move away from home. :p

#14 03-25-2003, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffwolinski
The biggest problem with 66 is the unbelievable growth taking place west of DC. It really boils down to too many cars and too little road. I always try to avoid these parking lots from 6:30 to 9:30 AM and 3:00 to 6:30 PM.

And then there's our favorite "Malfunction Junction" at the intersection of 395, the Beltway, and I 95 below. This eight year project to widen the highway has already been determined NOT to keep up with the growing number of cars that will be there once it's done!!

Sorry for being slightly off-topic.

Frank X. Morris · #15 03-25-2003, 12:22 AM

Howdy All,
How about rocks, sand, water, mud, blowing sand, Jack Rabbits, Cotton Tails, wild dogs, wild cats, snakes, Coyotes and Bob cats

What can I say?¿ I live on a dirt road in the desert