Don't let this text be your last: Distracted driving expert shares ways to keep your eyes on the road

Taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds can double your crash risk, whether you’re scrolling Instagram, eating a sandwich, or digging through a backpack. Each year, distracted driving kills more than 3,000 Americans.

“Cell phone use while you’re driving is especially risky,” said Virginia Tech distracted driving expert Charlie Klauer. “You’re five times more likely to crash if you’re driving while texting or browsing the web.” 

Even though 33 states, including Virginia, have banned handheld phone use while driving, distracted driving hasn’t dropped nearly fast enough. “There are still way too many people out there engaging with their cell phone while they're driving,” said Klauer. “They’re not only increasing their own risk, they’re endangering everyone on the road.”

Klauer shared three ways to reduce your chances of driving distracted.

Prep before you press the gas. 

“Before you put the vehicle in drive, connect to Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, enter the address for your map display, and make sure your music is playing. Then go,” recommended Klauer. “Make sure everything is in place so that you can keep your eyes on the road as much as possible while you're moving.”

Keep phones out of reach. 

Klauer and her collaborators found in a recent study that high school drivers confessed to spending 20 percent of every driving trip glancing at their phones. “To remove the distraction, put your phone out of reach or keep it on ‘do not disturb,’” she said.

Skip the touch screen.

“The touch-screen infotainment systems found in most newer cars demand a dangerous level of attention to navigate. We see significant eyes-off-road time with those,” Klauer said. “When the car’s radio and HVAC system has knobs and dials, that risk drops significantly.”

Related article

Curbing roadway fatalities hinges on shared responsibility and rethinking safety

About Klauer

Charlie Klauer is an associate professor in the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and a research scientist at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Her research in human factors engineering and ergonomics looks at driver distraction, novice teen drivers, and driver fatigue.