Is Self-Control and Willpower the Answer to Stopping Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving continues to be an issue in our society. It has now surpassed drinking and driving as the number one killer on our roadways. Even with the Ontario provincial government reviewing the current fines and proposing harsher penalties, drivers in the province and across the country continue to engage in distracted driving activities.
What is it about distracted driving practices that people are failing to understand? Why are people not realizing the dangers of their actions? Why do we continue to talk on our phones and text our friends when we are behind the wheel?
More importantly, what will it take for people to finally get the message? Is it a large fine? Getting into an accident? Getting injured or hurting someone else?
Rationally we all know it’s wrong and something that we should not be doing. We have seen the statistics and awareness campaigns and most people understand the dangers. But, it doesn’t seem to translate into changed behaviour. In fact, more people are getting tickets for distracted driving than in previous years.
A New Study and New Approach to Preventing Distracted Driving
While many organizations are focusing on the use of technology in cars, apps, and other gadgets to deter distracted driving, Dr. Ray Bindham is taking a different approach.
Dr. Bindham is a research professor in the Department of Psychiatry, the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education and heads the Young Driver Behavior and Injury Prevention Group of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. He also leads the U-M Risk Science Center’s Distracted Driving Focus Initiative.
Dr. Bindham and his team have studied distracted driving at great lengths. They have found that efforts that ban texting and driving and other distracted driving practices in Michigan and other areas is not working, and it is even increasing the risk for drivers. Other tactics such as cellphone bans and increased enforcement by police are also coming up short.
So what’s the answer to preventing distracted driving? He suggests that perhaps it’s time to focus on self-control, willpower, and self-regulation:
“It’s called good old-fashioned self-control and self-regulation. Yes, that’s boring, I know. No fancy gizmos or whiz-bang technologies. Perhaps someday there will be fully automated vehicles, and before that there will likely be technology that can help drivers avoid distraction, remain alert, and maintain their attention on the task of driving. In the meantime, it’s up to each of us to do our part to promote roadway safety by avoiding distractions while we are driving.”
Bindham brings up a great argument. Every action we take when we are driving is a conscious decision. We choose to reach for our phones, text, and take our eyes off the road. It is up to each individual driver to rededicate themselves to being a safe driver – and this means having some self-restraint and choosing not to be distracted when driving. You can help to stop distracted driving today – Just choose not to do it!
What do you think? Do drivers need to have more self-control when behind the wheel? What can we do to reduce the number of distracted drivers on our roadways?