E-Watch - 2016/08/07

View neighbourhood reports for Residential Break and Enters and Stolen Vehicles. Visit CrimeStat to view Crime Statistics in Winnipeg. The CrimeStat website is an online resource that provides timely statistical information relating to crime in Winnipeg. Crime Prevention Tip In light of increasing occurrences of distracted driving, this week we will discuss this particular topic. Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. These types of distractions include: Texting Using a cell phone or smartphone Eating and drinking Talking to passengers Grooming Reading, including maps Using a navigation system Watching a video Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction. We offer the following research based facts: Text messaging while driving increases collision risk by 23 times Even more alarming than cell phone conversations is text messaging while driving. Results of a large-scale, naturalistic driving study found a 23.2 times increase in crash or near-crash risk when reading and sending text messages compared with driving without distractions. Simulated experiments show that drivers who text message while driving display poorer car-following ability and lateral lane control, and they spend 400% more time with their eyes off the road when compared with baseline. Does practice make perfect? Many people respond to these stated risks with comments such as "I am good at multitasking" or "with practice, I learned how to use my phone while driving safely." In reality, "multitasking" or concentrating on 2 tasks simultaneously is impossible for human cognition, and attempts to compensate for the distraction, such as decreasing speed or increasing following distance, are often inadequate to avoid collisions. Even those who can dial and text message without looking at their devices suffer from inattention blindness, which occurs when a driver looking directly at a stimulus does not perceive it or process a response to it. Cognition is divided between the tasks, and drivers are unable to adequately react to changing traffic situations despite their eyes being on the road. Cell phone use while driving is comparable with driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis A simulator study found that cell phone use while driving might be as or more dangerous than driving with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit. Having a cell phone conversation slows driver reaction time by 18%, while alcohol (at a concentration in the blood of 0.08 weight/volume) slows reaction time by 12%. Another study suggests that texting while driving might be more dangerous than driving under the influence of cannabis; texting slows driver reactions by 35% while cannabis slows reactions by 21%. Unfortunately, while most drivers would not even consider driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis, many use their cell phones while driving despite knowing the risks. "But I only use my cell phone at red lights or when I'm stuck in traffic." Although the collision risk might appear to be lower at intersections and while stopped in traffic, the driver is not attentive to changes in traffic signals and is at increased risk of rear-end collisions. One case report outlined how a driver distracted by a cell phone conversation inadvertently lifted her foot off the brake and rolled into oncoming traffic while at a red light. Is cell phone use more dangerous than other distractions? Cell phones might contribute to more collisions than other in-car tasks, such as eating and reaching for objects. In a 1-year naturalistic study of 241 drivers, dialing and having cell phone conversations contributed to more crashes and near crashes than any other task. Compared with other distractions, drivers engage in cell phone conversations more frequently and for longer periods of time, which results in a greater overall collision risk. If you find this information useful, please feel free to disperse it to anyone or group that you believe can benefit from it. Together, we can make driving safer for everyone! E-Watch - Your direct connection to information about crime and crime prevention in your community. Thank you for choosing to stay informed and helping us create a culture of safety in Winnipeg. 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