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Distracted driving: types, effects and how to prevent it

General Knowledge4 minManual section 2.9, 2.9.1–2.9.3, 2.9.6–2.9.7

Anything that pulls your attention away from driving is a distraction. Learn the kinds of distraction, what the research numbers say, how a distraction slows you down, how to remove distractions before you drive, and how to spot other distracted drivers.

What counts as a distraction

A driver distraction is anything that pulls your attention off the job of driving. Any time your full focus is not on the road, you put yourself, your passengers, other vehicles and pedestrians in danger. Distraction can cause crashes with injury, death or property damage.

Inside the vehicle, distractions include: conversations with passengers; changing the radio, CD player, heat or air conditioning; food, drinks or smoking; looking at maps or other papers; picking up something you dropped; phone or CB radio calls; texting or reading texts; using electronic or telematic devices (navigation systems, pagers, PDAs, computers); and daydreaming or other mental distractions.

Outside the vehicle, distractions include: other traffic, vehicles or pedestrians; events such as police stopping someone or a crash scene; sunlight or sunset; objects in the road; road construction; and billboards or other road advertising.

The crash numbers

The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) found that 8% of large-truck crashes happened when the CMV driver was distracted by something outside the truck, and 2% when the driver was distracted by something inside.

NHTSA estimates that about 5,500 people are killed and about 448,000 are injured each year on U.S. roads in crashes involving distracted driving.

Talking on a cell phone, even hands-free, takes away about 39% of the brain energy you would normally use for safe driving. Drivers who use a hand-held phone are more likely to have a crash serious enough to cause injury.

If distraction makes you react just half a second slower, crashes double.

Effects and types of distraction

Effects: distraction causes slowed perception: you notice an important traffic event late, or not at all. It also causes delayed decisions and wrong actions: you act late, or you make the wrong move with the steering wheel, accelerator or brakes.

  • Physical distraction: takes your hands off the wheel or eyes off the road. Example: reaching for an object.
  • Mental distraction: takes your mind off the road. Examples: a conversation with a passenger, or thinking about something that happened earlier in the day.
  • Both physical and mental: the greatest crash risk. Examples: talking on a cell phone, and sending or reading texts.

Don't drive distracted: plan before you roll

Your goal is to remove all in-vehicle distractions before you start driving. Do this by: looking at every possible distraction before the trip; making a plan to reduce or remove them; expecting distractions to happen; and talking through possible situations before you get behind the wheel.

  • Turn off all communication devices.
  • If you must use a phone, keep it close, usable while you are buckled in, and use an earpiece, speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, or the hands-free feature. You are not following the rule if you reach unsafely for the phone, even to use hands-free.
  • Do not type or read a text message while driving.
  • Learn your vehicle's features and equipment before you drive, and adjust all controls and mirrors before you start.
  • Pre-set radio stations and pre-load your CDs.
  • Clear out unneeded objects and secure your cargo.
  • Review maps, program the GPS and plan the route before you drive.
  • Do not try to read or write while driving.
  • Avoid smoking, eating and drinking while driving. Leave early so you have time to stop and eat.
  • Avoid complex or emotional conversations with others in the vehicle, and ask passengers to behave responsibly and help you avoid distractions.

Watch out for other distracted drivers

If you do not recognize a distracted driver, you may not see or react in time to prevent a crash. Watch for:

  • Vehicles that drift over the lane lines or within their own lane.
  • Vehicles moving at inconsistent speeds.
  • Drivers busy with maps, food, cigarettes, phones or other objects.
  • Drivers who seem to be in conversation with passengers.

What to do: give a distracted driver plenty of room and keep a safe following distance. Be very careful when passing them, because they may not know you are there and may drift in front of you.

References and scope

The topic reference is listed below. Sources support verification; the lesson itself is here. The current content needs technical and language review before public launch.

Manual reference: 2.9, 2.9.1–2.9.3, 2.9.6–2.9.7

Official CDL handbook · Utah ↗StatesOur editorial approach

Put it into practice

Educational questions with explanations. The answer review also works without the interactive quiz.

Preparing your questions…

Review questions with answers

  1. A driver distraction is:
    1. Only using a cell phone while driving
    2. Anything that takes your attention away from driving
    3. Only something that happens outside the vehicle
    4. Only something that makes you take your hands off the wheel
    Show answer
    Anything that takes your attention away from driving

    A distraction is anything that takes your attention away from the driving task, inside or outside the vehicle.

  2. Which of these is a distraction from OUTSIDE the vehicle?
    1. Adjusting climate controls
    2. Eating a sandwich
    3. Talking on a CB radio
    4. Reading billboards
    Show answer
    Reading billboards

    Outside distractions include other traffic, crash scenes, sunlight, road objects, construction and billboards.

  3. According to the Large Truck Crash Causation Study, what percent of large-truck crashes happened when the driver was distracted by something OUTSIDE the truck?
    1. 8%
    2. 2%
    3. 23%
    4. 39%
    Show answer
    8%

    The LTCCS found 8% of large-truck crashes involved external distraction and 2% internal distraction.

  4. About how many people are killed each year on U.S. roads in crashes involving distracted driving?
    1. 550
    2. 55,000
    3. 5,500
    4. 448,000
    Show answer
    5,500

    NHTSA estimates about 5,500 killed and about 448,000 injured each year.

  5. Talking on a cell phone, even hands-free, takes away about what share of the brain energy normally used for safe driving?
    1. 10%
    2. 39%
    3. 60%
    4. 80%
    Show answer
    39%

    Research shows a phone conversation, even hands-free, saps about 39% of the brain energy devoted to safe driving.

  6. If distractions make drivers react just half a second slower, crashes:
    1. Drop by half
    2. Stay the same
    3. Rise by 10%
    4. Double
    Show answer
    Double

    Research shows that a half-second slower reaction because of distraction doubles crashes.

  7. Which is an effect of distracted driving?
    1. Slowed perception and delayed decision making
    2. Better focus on the road ahead
    3. Shorter stopping distance
    4. Faster reaction time
    Show answer
    Slowed perception and delayed decision making

    Distraction slows perception and delays decisions, which can lead to late or wrong steering, accelerator or brake inputs.

  8. Reaching for an object on the floor while driving is an example of:
    1. Mental distraction only
    2. Road rage
    3. Physical distraction
    4. Aggressive driving
    Show answer
    Physical distraction

    A physical distraction pulls your hands from the wheel or your eyes from the road. Reaching for something is a classic example.

  9. Thinking about an argument you had earlier in the day while driving is:
    1. A physical distraction
    2. A mental distraction
    3. Not a distraction
    4. An outside distraction
    Show answer
    A mental distraction

    Mental distractions take your mind off the road, like a conversation or thinking about something from earlier.

  10. Which activity combines physical AND mental distraction, creating an even greater crash risk?
    1. Listening to pre-set radio stations
    2. Looking at a billboard briefly
    3. Thinking about dinner
    4. Sending or reading text messages
    Show answer
    Sending or reading text messages

    Talking on a cell phone and texting are both physical and mental, giving the greatest chance of a crash.

  11. What is the best time to program your GPS and plan your route?
    1. Before you begin driving
    2. While stopped at a red light
    3. On the highway when traffic is light
    4. Whenever you miss a turn
    Show answer
    Before you begin driving

    Review maps, program the GPS and plan your route before you start driving.

  12. Which tip helps you avoid eating while driving?
    1. Keep snacks on the passenger seat
    2. Eat only on straight roads
    3. Leave early so you have time to stop and eat
    4. Eat only with one hand
    Show answer
    Leave early so you have time to stop and eat

    Avoid eating, drinking and smoking while driving; leave early to give yourself time to stop to eat.

  13. To reduce distractions before a trip, you should:
    1. Leave loose items on the dashboard so they are easy to reach
    2. Clear the vehicle of unneeded objects and secure the cargo
    3. Plan to adjust mirrors once you are on the highway
    4. Keep your phone in your lap
    Show answer
    Clear the vehicle of unneeded objects and secure the cargo

    Clear out unnecessary objects, secure cargo, and adjust mirrors and controls before driving.

  14. Which is part of a good plan to prevent distractions?
    1. Assume nothing distracting will happen
    2. Start complex or emotional talks with passengers to stay awake
    3. Turn on all communication devices so you do not miss calls
    4. Expect distractions to occur and talk through possible situations before driving
    Show answer
    Expect distractions to occur and talk through possible situations before driving

    Assess distractions, make a preventive plan, expect distractions, and discuss possible scenarios before you drive.

  15. Which is a sign of a distracted driver ahead of you?
    1. The vehicle drifts within its lane and travels at inconsistent speeds
    2. The vehicle keeps a steady speed in the right lane
    3. The driver signals well before turning
    4. The vehicle keeps a long following distance
    Show answer
    The vehicle drifts within its lane and travels at inconsistent speeds

    Watch for drifting over or within lane lines, inconsistent speeds, and drivers busy with objects or passengers.

  16. When you must pass a driver who seems distracted, you should:
    1. Pass quickly while honking continuously
    2. Follow very closely until they notice you
    3. Be very careful, because they may not know you are there and may drift in front of you
    4. Flash your high beams and pass on the right
    Show answer
    Be very careful, because they may not know you are there and may drift in front of you

    Give a distracted driver plenty of room and be very careful passing; they may drift into your path.

  17. It is safe to have emotionally intense conversations with passengers as long as both hands stay on the wheel. True or False?
    1. True
    2. False
    Show answer
    False

    False. Complex or emotionally intense conversations are a mental distraction and should be avoided while driving.