
winter driving - by flickr user Hey Paul
Based on miles traveled, taking the car is many times more dangerous than taking a train and several times more dangerous than an airplane or bus. Yet we still take the car, right? For convenience—and driving enjoyment, in some cases—it's unbeatable.
And considering safety, there's a lot you can do to help minimize your chances of being in an accident. It's estimated, from federal data, that about 20 percent of all crashes are directly caused by some sort of distraction; that distraction can take a wide range of forms—mostly from things we're not supposed to be doing behind the wheel like eating, texting, or even putting on makeup.
And if you have several somewhat distracted drivers together? That's a recipe for disaster.
Keep your eyes on the road, both hands on the wheel. Here are seven things that you could do to make your time in the car even more dangerous:
Eating or drinking while driving is as dangerous as using a cellphone
A number of studies have found that eating or drinking while driving can be just as dangerous as using a cellphone. That makes messy food and drink potentially accountable in some way for causing thousands of fatal accidents this past year alone. It seems like only time before fast-food restaurants need to include a warning about eating while driving...but...that itself would be distracting.
And beware the greasy food and sweets, both of which can make you drowsy. If you really must sip something while driving, bring a water bottle that doesn't have a lid to fall beside the seat, or sticky liquid to freak out about.
Coca-Cola 'Freestyle' machine by Pininfarina [via Dexigner]
To avoid feeling sleepy in the first place, start your trip with a good night of sleep, make frequent stops, stay hydrated, and eat light. And if you're feeling sleepy, as soon as possible pull over somewhere safe for a nap, or stop for the night.
Honda Element Dog-Friendly package
Let your hound ride shotgun. Yes, we've seen people driving around with pets on their laps, or riding shotgun with the windows down, and yes, it's pretty darned cute. But it's actually extremely dangerous—increasing both the likelihood of injury to all creatures in the vehicle and the chances that you might get in one. According to the AAA, the airbag itself can cause more injury to the pet, in a low-speed accident, than the crash itself; unrestrained, an 80-pound dog can turn into a potentially lethal projectile, exerting 2,400 pounds in a 30-mph crash.
An AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study earlier this year found that up to one-third of dog owners report being distracted by their pet while driving, while nearly a quarter said that they'd allowed their pet to ride in their lap.
So do your entire family a favor: buckle every creature up, and don't let the dog ride shotgun. A number of suppliers also make dog harnesses compatible with automotive seatbelts; otherwise consider a kennel that can be secured down, or a pet gate like those offered by Honda, Volvo, Subaru, and others.
Texting while driving
What's especially worrisome is that teens in the 13-17 age group, who will soon be behind the wheel, send on average well over 3,000 texts per month. As of the time of posting, 30 states and the District of Columbia have all-out band on texting, while beginning drivers are banned in eight additional states. While in-car apps might make some tasks a little easier, it's hard to overlook study results from last year suggesting that the risk of crash while texting is 23 times higher than during non-distracted driving.
Apple iPhone
While a number of automakers have rolled out some innovative hands-free solutions—like Ford, with its Sync connectivity system—and so far a number of states have limited hand-held cellphone use. However, rates of fatal distraction haven't dropped.
But isn't that chatty passenger just as distracting as a call, you might ask? Research has shown that cognitive distraction can be especially dangerous from phone calls compared to real passengers, as passengers will usually know to pause the conversation for close calls or situations that demand full attention.
Digital billboard

Drowsy drivers to receive a shock
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