Not All Distracted Drivers Are Created Equal

Posted & filed under Auto Safety.

ConsumerReports.org’s Cars Blog has an interesting post from February 19 on driving distraction by profession. Most of the recent talk on this topic — including a full-out push by Oprah Winfrey to marshal her viewers against cell phones in the car — focuses on talking and texting behind the wheel.

As it turns out, however, not all drivers desperate to stay in touch via voice, email, and text are created equal. Almost anyone on a tight schedule or who has important pending email relative to a project is guilty of picking up their flashing BlackBerry or beeping iPhone. The drivers with the greatest culpability, however, are apparently — and ironically — judges and lawyers.

Others who aren’t keeping their eyes on the road include financial professionals, government employees, bartenders and waiters, business people of any sort, dog groomers, advertising / marketing execs, barbers and hairstylists, coaches, and nurses. (Okay, I get financial professionals checking the markets, but dog groomers?!)

The safest drivers in terms of distractions are athletes and homemakers — a real surprise since suburban Moms in mini-vans have gained a reputation for yelling and breaking up fights while driving. (Or maybe this is just one of those things women have learned to manage more efficiently.)

At any rate, sufficient evidence has piled up to get legislators at all levels of government in high gear to get distracted driving laws on the books. Be prepared to have hands-free equipment in the car or be forced to prove that you weren’t thumb typing or talking in the event of an accident.