DRIVING TO DISTRACTION: MORE THAN CELL PHONES DISTRACT DRIVERS

Eating while driving can be a hazardous activity.

Adjusting the radio in the car can distract a driver.

City and state police and insurance companies agree; Driver inattention is the most frequently checked box on vehicular accident report forms. Pinpointing the inattention isn't quite as easy.

Privacy laws in the United States hamper independent studies being done such as the one conducted by the University of Toronto. The findings of the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine stated that during the first 15 minutes of a call, use of a cell phone while driving quadrupled the chances of an accident. The Journal also conducted a study that found talking on the phone while driving posed the same impairment risk as driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.10, a level at which drivers are considered legally drunk in all 50 states.

Cell phone companies realize they are the target of much criticism at the moment and try to promote safety while dialing and driving. Southwestern Bell distributes to its customers a brochure outlining safety tips for drivers using cell phones. All of the advertising ends with a tag message cautioning drivers to stay alert and use good judgment behind the wheel.-- Cell phones haven't been around forever and driver inattention isn't new, according to Mike Right of American Automobile Association. "Lack of proper attention would probably be a better term," said Right. Statistics are not available to pinpoint the inattention in every accident, but feedback to AAA and insurance companies lists a wide variety of driver errors.

-- In today's hurried society we practically live in our cars. To accommodate this mobile society, drive-through establishments are springing up in every sector. The convenience is appreciated, but what the driver does after leaving the facility can be a big determiner in driver inattention.

-- Picking up a prescription or the vacation photos from the comfort of your automobile is great as long as you don't try to get that childproof cap off while dodging traffic. And the photos, they will wait until you get home where you can relive the memories safely.

-- Don't drink and drive slogans are seen everywhere. Did you ever wonder then why there are drive-through liquor stores? Unfortunately for many, the temptation of the bottle in the seat is more than they can bear.

-- Making the most of a short lunch hour usually means visiting the drive-through. Suddenly you find yourself with lunch-wrapped and in a bag. Digging for the sandwich, getting it unwrapped, fishing for fries and trying to get the soda cup back in the holder are pretty obvious distractions.

-- Picking up the kids from the sitter and treating them to a drive-through meal seems like a good idea. Just how much attention are you giving to driving while trying to pass burgers and fries, ice cream and sodas over your shoulder to the hungry brood behind you?

-- Insurance companies frequently list the radio as high on the distraction list. Young inexperienced drivers haven't figured out that the car will run without the radio being tuned to the loudest station in the area. Leaning over to find that station or slip in a CD, regardless of how quick it can be done, averts the driver's attention from the road. This doesn't account for the fact that teen-agers often think there is no such thing as a maximum number of passengers. General talking of others in the car add to the distractions.

-- And the list doesn't stop here. Polling a group of friends and co-workers added the following: putting on your make-up and combing your hair on your way to work, lighting a cigarette, watching for yard sale signs, counting the money after going through the drive-through at the bank, looking at all the decorations on houses during the holidays, daydreaming, planning the day's events or re-thinking what happened at work and even bird-watching.

-- In all fairness, it should be reported that the use of cell phones to report accidents and request assistance has contributed to faster response by emergency teams. The computerized tracking systems available on luxury cars can guide you to your destination via the best route and may cause the driver's attention to wander, but if an accident occurs and the driver does not respond, the data will be sent by satellite to emergency personnel so help may be dispatched.

-- The distractions are there and always will be. It is up to us as responsible drivers to use common sense and good judgment every time we get behind the wheel.