Distractions Brochure 2014
12/17/13
9:57 AM
Page 1
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20005
www.aaafoundation.org
202-638-5944
AAAFTS
AAAFTS
Distractions
in Everyday
Driving
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries
through research into their causes and to educate the public about
strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries.
STOCK #962
© 2014
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Distractions Brochure 2014
12/17/13
9:57 AM
Page 3
Did you know that Americans spend about
one hour and 15 minutes in their vehicles
every day? Unfortunately, people often treat
this as a time to multitask and take care
of other daily activities, from eating dinner
to returning phone calls. With today’s
proliferation of mobile devices, dashboard
technologies, and other tools that provide
easy access to information, entertainment,
and communications, in-vehicle distractions
are increasing – as is the temptation to give
in to them. In fact, drivers spend more than
half their time behind the wheel engaged
in potentially distracting behaviors.
So little time, so many multi-taskers.
If you’re driving your vehicle, you are already
multitasking. At a minimum you are: operating
a piece of heavy machinery at high speed;
navigating across changing terrain; calculating
speeds and distances; and responding to all the
other drivers and obstacles around you. Putting
one more activity in the mix -- even talking to
your passengers or changing a radio station -can be enough to make you lose control of
your vehicle or fail to respond in an emergency.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
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participants in two states, researchers concluded
that it’s not only the new or high-tech gadgets
that are creating the biggest distractions.
Drivers today are getting distracted by many
of the same things that distracted drivers 100
years ago -- passengers, things that catch one’s
attention outside the vehicle, and objects in
the vehicle that move or fall over. Activities
like eating and reading are distractions just
like high-tech ones, such as text messaging,
emailing, or talking on a cell phone.
The younger the passenger,
the bigger the potential distraction
Dealing with passengers is one of the most
frequently reported causes of distraction.
Energetic teen passengers can be particularly
distracting, especially to inexperienced, young
drivers. Managing children and infants also
requires special attention. Researchers report
that kids are four times more distracting than
adults as passengers, and infants are eight
times more distracting.
Everyone does it -- and that’s not good
A Foundation study found almost everyone
reaches for something, adjusts a control, or gets
distracted at some point while driving, which is
one of the reasons distracted driving is such a big
problem. Driver inattention is a factor in more
than 1 million crashes in North America annually,
resulting in serious injuries, deaths, and an
economic impact that some experts say reaches
nearly $40 billion per year.
Most distractions are nothing new
After reviewing crash-report data and footage
from cameras mounted inside the vehicles of study
Distractions Brochure 2014
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Different distractions, same results
Quick quiz: What do eating a hamburger, getting
into a discussion, and reading a GPS screen have in
common? Well, if you’re doing any of these things
while driving, you become distracted in ways that
increase your risk of crashing. In fact, distractions
come in three forms: visual, manual, and cognitive.
• Visual distractions cause you to take your eyes off the
road. When traveling at 65 mph, if you look at your
GPS for two seconds to check where you are on the
map, you’ll have driven two-thirds the length of a
football field before you see the road again. That
gives you plenty of time and distance to get in a
serious crash.
• Manual distractions take your hands off the wheel.
When you use one – or even both – of your hands to
get that hamburger under control, you risk losing
control over something much more important – your
vehicle. You also are greatly slowing your ability to
respond to changing or unexpected conditions that
can occur without warning.
• Cognitive distractions take your mind off the task
at hand. Recent AAA Foundation research has found
that even when drivers keep their eyes on the road
and their hands on the wheel, engaging in mentally-distracting tasks (such as talking on a hands-free
phone or using a speech-to-text email system) can
lead to slowed reaction time, missed visual cues,
tunnel vision, and even suppressed activity in the
areas of the brain needed for safe driving. In short:
“hands-free” doesn't mean “risk-free!”
What about texting?
With more and more states banning handheld
phone usage and texting while driving, and new
technologies being developed to lock keypads and
block other functionality of mobile devices when
you’re behind the wheel, you may be thinking that
there’s a big fuss being made about texting. And
you’re right, because texting while driving combines
all three types of these distractions. When your eyes
are reading the screen, your fingers are typing on the
keypad, and your mind is busy crafting a message,
you’re not paying attention to driving and you’re
more likely to crash – up to 23 times more likely, in
fact. But remember – although texting while driving
is extremely dangerous, it’s by no means the only
activity that combines all three potentially lethal
types of distraction, and just because something
may not be illegal doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Distractions Brochure 2014
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Be aware that distraction is a problem that affects YOU.
The AAA Foundation’s sixth annual Traffic
Safety Culture Index found that nearly 90
percent of motorists rated drivers talking on
cell phones as a somewhat or very serious threat
to their personal safety, and over 95 percent
felt this way about drivers texting or emailing.
Yet more than 2/3 of respondents also admitted
to talking on a cell phone while driving in the
past month, more than 1/3 admitted to reading
a text or email in that time, and more than
1/4 admitted to typing or sending a text
message or email while driving.
Don’t touch that dial.
Adjust seat positions, climate controls, sound systems,
and other devices before you leave or while the
vehicle is stopped. Know how your controls work,
so if you must adjust something on the fly, you’ll
be less distracted. Use presets for radio and climate
control, or have your passenger assist you.
Stop to eat or drink.
Drive-through windows and giant cup holders
make it tempting to have a meal while driving,
but you’re safer when you stop to eat or
drink. Reducing your risk will be worth the
time you spend.
Pull over to a safe place to talk on the
phone, or send text messages or emails.
Cell phones can be a great resource for getting
help or reporting trouble. But, whether you use
a handheld phone or a hands-free device, talking
while driving causes you to take your mind off the
task at hand (and sometimes your eyes and hands,
too). Your best bet is to pull off the road to a
safe spot before you use your phone to talk, text,
or surf the web. Be careful, because stopping on
the road can be very dangerous. Find a safe
area away from traffic. Learn how your phone’s
controls work in case an emergency call while
driving is unavoidable. And practice good
habits: Turn your phone off before you drive, so
you won’t be tempted to answer calls on the road.
Plan ahead.
Check directions and traffic conditions before
you leave, so you'll be prepared for your journey.
If you have a GPS, enter your destination information before departing, and pull over to a
safe place if you need to make changes or
review maps or route guidance. If possible, use
a passenger as your navigator and assistant.
Don’t multitask and drive.
Driving is complicated enough -- you’ll become
distracted if you do other things, too. Don’t use
the vehicle’s mirrors for personal grooming when
the vehicle is in motion. Don’t try to read or write
while you’re behind the wheel. Just drive.
Pull over to care for children.
Change the baby, feed the kids, and buckle them
into their vehicle seats before you leave. If you
need to attend to them, pull over in a safe place -don’t try to handle children while you’re driving.
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Help teens identify and reduce distractions.
New drivers face a big challenge behind the
wheel; in fact, the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety reports that for every mile
they drive, teens are four times more likely
to be involved in a crash than other drivers.
Additionally, crash risk increases with the
number of passengers.
Parents must model safe driving behaviors,
and can teach teens to limit distractions
and focus on the road.
Per mile
driven, teens
are four times
more likely
to be involved
in a crash
than other
drivers.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Distractions Brochure 2014
12/17/13
9:57 AM
Page 1
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20005
www.aaafoundation.org
202-638-5944
AAAFTS
AAAFTS
Distractions
in Everyday
Driving
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries
through research into their causes and to educate the public about
strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries.
STOCK #962
© 2014
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20005
www.aaafoundation.org
202-638-5944
AAAFTS
AAAFTS
How To Avoid
Drowsy Driving
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries
through research into their causes and to educate the public about
strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries.
STOCK #368
© 2013
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
What’s Your Biological Time?
Your body has its own biological clock.
This clock tells you when you’re hungry,
when you’re sleepy, and makes your body
temperature go up and down. Most people’s
clocks run on a daily rhythm of approximately
24 hours -- a “circadian rhythm,” meaning
“about one day.” But what “time” it is varies
from person to person. “Morning people”
feel most alert early in the day, while “night
people” like to stay up late. Teenagers and
young people have clocks that make them
want to go to bed late and sleep late the
next morning. As people get older they
tend to wake up earlier and want to go
to bed earlier.
Night time is very risky for drivers, since sleep
can become an irresistible urge. That urge is
strongest between midnight and six a.m.,
when drivers are especially likely to have
sleep-related crashes. Your biological clock is
Sleepiness and Driving Don’t Mix
also programmed to make you feel sleepy in
Feeling sleepy is especially dangerous when you
the middle of the afternoon, which can be a
are driving. Sleepiness slows your reaction time,
dangerous time. Many sleep-related crashes
decreases awareness and impairs your judgment,
happen between one and five p.m., during
just like drugs or alcohol. People who are very
the “afternoon lull.”
sleepy behave in similar ways to people who are
drunk. The impact that this has on traffic safety
Think about your own biological clock.
should not be underestimated. In fact, the AAA
What times of day do you feel most alert?
Foundation recently studied the prevalence and
When do you feel drowsy? Do you keep a
impact of drowsy driving and estimated that 16.5
schedule that lets you follow your clock?
percent of fatal crashes on the nation’s roadways
Knowing this information can help you make
involve a drowsy driver.
the best use of your time by allowing you to
factor alertness into your planning.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
How much do you know about sleep?
Do you know which of the seven statements
about sleep are true versus false?
When I’m driving drowsy, all I need is
some caffeine to wake me up.
I can tell when I’m about to fall asleep.
I’m a safe driver so it doesn’t matter
if I’m sleepy.
Alcohol can make you sleepy.
I don’t need much sleep.
Being sleepy can lead to making mistakes.
Young people need less sleep.
When I’m driving drowsy, all I
need is some caffeine to wake me up. FALSE
Caffeine can indeed increase alertness, but it’s no
substitute for sleep. Whether from coffee, tea,
soda, or candy, caffeine makes you feel more
alert, but takes about 30 minutes to enter your
bloodstream and the effects last only two or
three hours. If you are very sleepy and drink coffee,
you can still have “micro-sleeps”-- tiny naps that
last just a few seconds. At 65 miles per hour, you
travel more than 100 yards in four seconds. That
gives you plenty of time and distance to crash.
Caffeine can be part of your strategy for driving
alert, but it’s not enough by itself.
I can tell when I’m about to fall asleep. FALSE
Sleep is not something you can decide to do or
not do. Everybody who has had insomnia knows
they can’t make themselves go to sleep. But most
people don’t realize they also can’t make themselves stay awake. In a AAA Foundation study
of drivers who fell asleep and crashed, nearly half
said they felt only “slightly drowsy” or “not at
all drowsy” just before the crash. You can fall
asleep and not know it, and you can't tell how
long you've been asleep. In fact, research has
found that people need to be asleep for between
two and four minutes before 50 percent of
them acknowledge that they have, in fact, been
sleeping. When you’re driving, dozing for even
a few seconds can be fatal.
I’m a safe driver so
it doesn’t matter if I’m sleepy. FALSE
Safe drivers are always alert. They keep their eyes
open and they focus on the road, unlike sleepy
drivers. Someone who is a safe driver when
they’re alert can become dangerous when they’re
sleepy. In the AAA Foundation's third annual
Traffic Safety Culture Index survey of drivers, 41
percent admitted to having fallen asleep while
driving in their lifetime, and more than 1/4 said
that in the past month they'd driven when they
were so tired they had a hard time keeping
their eyes open. Despite this fact, 85 percent of
respondents said such drowsy driving was
"completely unacceptable.”
Alcohol can make you sleepy. TRUE
To someone who is very tired, one drink feels
like four or five. If you have not had enough
sleep during the week and you are out on
Friday night, even one or two drinks can
make you dangerously drowsy on the way
home. When you’re already tired, don’t make
matters worse by drinking -- and remember
that the sleepiness remains, even if the
alcohol has worn off.
I don’t need much sleep. FALSE
Most people need about eight hours of sleep
a night. While some need more and some need
less, research shows that getting less than six
hours of sleep is especially risky. If you go to
bed late and wake up early, you are building
up a sleep debt. By the end of the week you
could be dangerously tired and at risk of having
a crash. You can’t overcome the need for sleep
with willpower, and it won’t go away by itself.
Sleep is a basic need that plays a vital role in
your body’s health and function. Just like it’s
crucial to satisfy your body’s feelings of
hunger and thirst, getting enough rest is of
the utmost importance. If you do spend eight
hours sleeping but still feel tired, or if you
have trouble sleeping, you may have a sleep
disorder. Most disorders can be treated; see your
doctor for a referral to a sleep specialist.
Being sleepy can lead to making mistakes. TRUE
When you’re tired your judgment can be impaired
and your brain can play tricks on you. You may do
the wrong thing, or you think you have performed
a task you have not really completed. A drowsy
driver may not realize that the car is going the
wrong way onto a divided highway, or that the car
ahead is about to stop. Everyone, including doctors,
police, engineers, and drivers, becomes less
competent when they are sleepy.
Young people need less sleep. FALSE
In fact, teenagers and young adults need more
sleep than older adults. They often get less
because they have different sleep schedules than
adults do. Brain chemicals that cause sleep are
released later during adolescence, so teens think
that being able to stay up late means they don’t
need much sleep. The reverse is true: They actually
need around nine hours of sleep a night to be fully
rested. Any less and they could end up driving
drowsy, even if it’s in the morning on the
way to school.
Are you sleep deprived?
Millions of people have a serious sleep debt.
They can get this debt in many ways – they
work the night shift, hold two jobs, stay up
late, work full-time while going to school, or
have other scheduling problems. But some
people can spend eight hours in bed and
still be tired often because they have
unrecognized or untreated sleep disorders.
When your sleep debt gets big enough, there
is nothing you can do to stay awake. You
might be able to remain alert when you’re
busy or excited, but as soon as it gets quiet
your sleep debt takes over and you go to
sleep. For example, at a party you might feel
perfectly awake, but when you get into your
car you start to doze. To make matters worse,
partygoers often drive when they are tired
and have been drinking – an exceptionally
dangerous combination.
Drive Alert ... Arrive Alive!
Driving can reveal your true level of sleepiness,
especially in the afternoon or at night. Starting a
trip feels exciting, but the alertness wears off, letting boredom and drowsiness take over. Here are
some suggestions for
ways to avoid driving drowsy:
• Don’t drive when you are sleepy. If you
become sleepy while driving, pull over
and take a break.
• Get enough sleep, especially the night
before a long trip. Sleeping less than six
hours increases your risk of falling asleep at
the wheel; sleeping less than four hours is
especially dangerous. Also, don’t plan to
work all day and then drive all night. Research
shows that a driver who has been awake 20
or more hours is at high risk of falling asleep.
Travel at times when you are normally awake,
and stay over-night rather than driving
straight through.
• Travel with a passenger. An alert passenger can
watch you for signs of fatigue. If you have a front
seat passenger, he or she should remain awake.
• Take a power nap. Pull off the road to park in a
safe place such as a parking lot or rest area; never
pull over on the shoulder of the road. Be sure to
pick a well-lit place where your car is visible to
passersby. Roll up the windows, lock the doors,
and lie back in the driver’s seat for 20 minutes or
so. When you wake up, get some exercise and
have some caffeine.
• Schedule a break every two hours or every 100
miles. Stop sooner if you become sleepy. If you get
a Trip Tik from AAA, ask a travel counselor to
point out good places to stop. Many websites that
provide directions offer the ability to indicate
stopping places along the route.
Danger Signs for Drowsy Drivers
People do not always recognize when they are
sleepy. You may feel awake, but if you are tired
you could fall asleep at any time. If you have
any of the following symptoms of sleepiness,
pull off the road as soon as possible and
find a place to sleep.
still has not had enough sleep. Recognizing and
treating sleep apnea is important, as it may be
associated with an irregular heartbeat, high
blood pressure, heart attack or stroke.
You have trouble keeping your eyes
open and focused
You can’t keep your head up
You daydream or have wandering,
disconnected thoughts
You yawn frequently or rub your
eyes repeatedly
You find yourself drifting from your
lane or tailgating
You miss signs or drive past your exit
You feel irritable and restless
You drift off the road and hit the rumble strips
You are unable to remember how far you have
traveled or what you have recently passed by
If you have even one of these symptoms,
you could be sleepier than you think. When
planning your route, identify places where
you can nap if the need arises.
If You’re Tired All the Time, You May
Have a Problem
A surprising number of people are tired because
they have a sleep disorder that has not been
diagnosed or treated. Sleep apnea, a common
breathing disorder, causes the sleeper’s throat to
relax so deeply that breathing stops. The sleeper
gasps, wakes up briefly, and then goes back to
sleep. This process repeats itself, sometimes as
many as 20 to 60 times an hour. The result is
someone who has been in bed all night but
Other sleep disorders include chronic insomnia,
restless legs, and even narcolepsy, in which the
sufferer falls asleep without warning during
ordinary situations.
Check your symptoms:
• Do you snore loudly?
• Have you been told that you gasp or choke
in your sleep?
• Do you spend eight hours sleeping but still
not feel rested?
• Do you fall asleep at unusual times, such
as at dinner or at work?
• Do you have trouble going to sleep, or
wake up in the middle of the night?
These are all potentially symptoms of a sleep
disorder. If you have any of them, you may
wish to consult a doctor who specializes in
sleep medicine.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20005
www.aaafoundation.org
202-638-5944
AAAFTS
AAAFTS
How To Avoid
Headlight Glare
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries
through research into their causes and to educate the public about
strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries.
STOCK #970
© 2013
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
If bright headlights and glare bother you
when you drive at night, you’re not alone.
But you don’t need to continue to suffer.
With the right strategies, the right driving
techniques, and the right equipment, you
can learn how to handle nighttime glare
with confidence.
New Lights, Old Problems
Drivers have been complaining about glare
ever since electric headlights began replacing
oil lamps on automobiles more than 100 years
ago. So why does glare seem to have grown
worse? The answer involves technology,
automotive design, and demographics.
Extra Lights
Many vehicles now sport fog lamps or other
auxiliary lights in front. Ideally, fog lamps cast
a low, broad beam to reduce “back-scatter”
from the vehicle’s headlights when water
droplets hang in the air. They’re intended to
improve a driver’s ability to see in foggy, misty,
or hazy conditions. However, when they’re
aimed improperly or used on clear nights,
they can annoy other drivers.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lights
Introduced in Europe in 1996, HID lights are
showing up on more cars in the United States,
especially upscale models. Unlike conventional
bulbs, HID headlights don’t have filaments.
Instead, they use a high voltage electrical arc
to ionize xenon gas and make it glow. HID
lights emit twice the light of halogen headlamps, but also produce a blue-white light.
Other headlights look yellow by comparison.
Whether you love HID lights or hate them
depends on which side of the light you’re on.
Drivers with HID lights swear by them, while
other drivers swear at them. Many motorists
who are faced with HID lights find the amount
of light and its blue-white quality blinding.
In fact, a Foundation study surveyed drivers
whose cars were equipped with HID headlights
to determine how much glare their headlamps
were causing for other drivers, and nearly 1 in 5
reported at least occasionally receiving high
beam flashes from other drivers. The type of
headlamp light source (HID vs. non-HID)
was a significant predictor of receiving high
beam flashes.
Higher Lights
Off-Kilter Lights
Although no headlights can exceed the 54-inch
height limit set by federal safety standards,
many larger vehicles - such as light trucks and
sport utility vehicles (SUVs) - ride higher than
cars. As a result their headlights often ride
higher, too, leading to many complaints from
car drivers that the lights on SUVs and pickup
trucks shine directly into their eyes.
Headlights pointed as little as one degree
too high can make a huge difference to
oncoming drivers. Misaimed beams also don’t
cast as much light on the road, where it is most
needed. Unfortunately, studies show that
almost half of the vehicles in states that require
regular inspections had at least one improperly
aimed headlight. And, vehicles more than five
years old are twice as likely to have off-kilter
headlights as new ones.
Your Eyes
Like beauty, glare is often in the eye of the
beholder. Drivers middle-aged and older are
more sensitive to glare than younger drivers
because their eyes take longer to adjust to
changing light levels. For example, a 55-yearold takes eight times longer to recover from
glare than a 16-year-old. As the population
ages, the number of older drivers will continue
to rise as will the number of complaints about
glare. Lighter-colored eyes are more sensitive,
which means the lighter your eyes are the more
glare will bother you. Certain other conditions,
such as having had vision-correction surgery
that affects the corneas, may also increase
your sensitivity to glare.
Keep All Glass Clear and Clean
Streaks, smudges, and road grime on your windows
catch and refract light. This includes the inside
of your windshield. Chemicals from the plastic
in your car’s interior slowly build up on the
glass, until pretty soon you’re looking at the
windshield, not through it. Scratched eyeglasses
or contact lenses also make glare worse.
For maximum glare prevention, keep every
surface between your eyes and the road as
clear as possible -- including both sides of your
windshield and your eyeglasses. Clean the
windows both inside and out at least once a
month to get rid of haze.
Prepare to Fight Glare
Even before you hit the road, prepare yourself
and your vehicle for combating the bright
lights ahead.
Clean Your Headlights
When you clean your windshield, be sure to
clean your headlights, too. Even a thin layer of
road grime on lenses can block up to 90 percent
of the light and severely restrict your ability
to see at night.
Clean lenses are even more important if you
have HID headlights. Dirt diffuses the light
from HID lights and causes glare that can
temporarily blind other drivers, so headlightcleaning systems are standard equipment on
many cars with HID lights. Using the headlight
cleaners regularly becomes a matter of
“enlightened” self-interest for you; when
you reduce glare for oncoming drivers you
improve your own safety as well. After all,
everybody shares the same road.
While you’re at it, clean your wiper blades with
a paper towel dipped in windshield washer
fluid. This removes grime and oxidized rubber
from the edge of the blade and helps prevent
streaking. If streaks persist, you need new blade
refills available from any auto parts store or
discount chain.
Have chips or cracks in the windshield repaired
immediately. Often a trained glass repair
technician can fill small damaged areas with
special resin -- a fast, inexpensive process that
not only improves visibility but also prevents
the crack or chip from growing and requiring
a windshield replacement.
Aim Headlights Correctly
If you live in a state that requires regular
safety inspections, ask the technician to check
and correct the aim of your headlights. If your
state doesn’t require such an inspection, take
your vehicle to an auto mechanic, dealer or
other properly equipped repair shop at least
once a year for a headlight checkup. Your
properly aligned headlights will help you see
better, and will help other drivers avoid glare.
Adjust Both Outside Mirrors
Properly aligned mirrors not only reduce
blind spots, they also reduce glare from
vehicles behind you.
AAA recommends the following method:
While sitting in the driver’s seat, lean to the left
and tilt your head until it rests against the window.
From that position, adjust the driver’s side
mirror so you can just see the left rear corner
of the vehicle. Next, while sitting in the driver’s
seat, lean to the right and tilt your head until
it’s in the center of the vehicle. From that position
adjust the passenger-side mirror so that the
right rear corner of the vehicle is just visible.
Now when cars pass you, you’ll notice that your
mirrors don’t direct the brightest part of the
headlights into your eyes. You’ll also notice that
the arrangement reduces blind spots and makes
it easier to spot vehicles to the side and rear.
Have Your Vision Checked Regularly
The American Optometric Association
recommends comprehensive eye exams every
two years for persons age 60 and younger,
and annually for those 61 and older. Age
makes eyes more sensitive to glare, but certain
medical conditions, such as encroaching
cataracts will increase the problem. If the
problem is detected early, your eye care
professional can recommend effective treatment.
These simple, but surprisingly
effective techniques will help
you fight glare:
Behind-the Wheel Tips
Avert Your Eyes
When oncoming vehicles shine light directly
into your eyes, look down and to the right.
Turn your gaze to the white line on the right
side of the road, or to where pavement meets
shoulder, until the vehicle goes by. You can
still see the vehicles around you with your
peripheral vision, but the glare won’t bother
you as much because you are not using the
most light-sensitive part of your eyes.
Learn to Use Your Mirror’s “Night” Setting
All cars have “day/night” interior mirrors to
reduce reflected glare from vehicles directly
behind you. You can change the mirror to its
“night” setting by flipping the small lever at
the bottom of the mirror. This changes the
angle of the reflective surface and appears
to dim the mirror. Lights will show up in the
glass, but they’re much less bright and
not so bothersome.
Use Your Lights Courteously
In fog, use only your low-beam headlights;
high beams reduce your own ability to see and
may temporarily blind other drivers. If your car
has fog lamps, only use them if there is fog
and in conjunction with your low beams. Avoid
using your high beams when you see oncoming
vehicles or when you drive in urban areas.
Take Frequent Breaks
If you’re driving at night for a long time, stop
often to reduce fatigue and give your eyes a
chance to recover. Take a short nap, or at
least a brisk walk and some caffeine to help
you stay alert.
Extra Glare Protection
If glare still bothers you after prepping your
car and yourself for night driving and trying
the techniques previously mentioned, consider
these strategies:
Anti-Reflective Eyeglass Coating
Many eye care professionals strongly
recommend glasses with an anti-reflective (AR)
coating. This ultra-thin film, made from zircon
and silicon, reduces internal reflections in the
lenses. Unlike sunglasses or self-darkening
lenses, which block some light, AR-coated
glasses actually transmit more light -- about 8
percent more. This improves vision at night and
helps distinguish fine details during the day.
Highway patrol troopers have reported better
night and day vision and reduced nighttime
glare with AR-coated lenses. These lenses
may help you too.
Self-Dimming Mirrors
Many upscale cars now offer self-dimming
mirrors that reduce glare but allow you
to maintain excellent rearward visibility.
As glare becomes brighter, the mirrors become
darker; as glare diminishes, the mirrors lighten
up. These mirrors are available from some
dealers and automobile parts stores. If you’re
particularly sensitive to reflected glare, consider
getting self-dimming mirrors, either as
replacements for your current mirrors or
as equipment on your next car.
If All Else Fails
Drivers with vision problems may find that
even these techniques don’t help. In that case,
consider driving less at night, or restricting
your travel to routes that have good overhead
roadway lighting and clear, well maintained
pavement markings.
Things to AvoidUsing “Night Driving”
Glasses
Some retailers offer special, tinted glasses that
supposedly block the wavelengths of light
responsible for most troublesome glare.
Unfortunately, no matter what the color, these
glasses also reduce the amount of light that
reaches your eyes, and you need light to see.
While these glasses may reduce glare, they also
reduce your night vision overall.
Wearing Sunglasses at Night
Eye care professionals warn against wearing
sunglasses at night, and they should also not be
worn while driving in tunnels, parking garages,
or other poorly-lit areas. They not only restrict
your night vision but eventually, as your eyes
get used to them, they become inadequate
for daytime protection.
Installing Imitation HID Headlights
Those who envy the HID headlights on
upscale cars often fall for the fake HID lights
offered by some manufacturers as replacements. Even though they may have a “xenon”
or “blue” in their names, they’re often just
ordinary halogen headlights that have been
given a blue tint. Because of the added coloring
they may actually provide less light than regular
bulbs. If you must replace your headlights,
don’t buy cheap, imitation HID lights; consider
using the lights recommended by your
vehicle’s manufacturer.
The right strategies, driving
techniques, and equipment will
help you handle nighttime glare
with confidence.
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AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20005
www.aaafoundation.org
202-638-5944
AAAFTS
AAAFTS
The Older
And Wiser Driver
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries
through research into their causes and to educate the public about
strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries.
STOCK #822
© 2013
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Older Wiser 2013
3/20/13
2:54 PM
Page 3
Sharpening Your Driving Skills
Aging is inevitable, but growing older
doesn’t have to mean giving up an active life.
While aging does impose physical limitations,
many people achieve their greatest successes
later in life. For example, businessman Henry
M. Leland founded the Cadillac Automobile
Company when he was 59 years old. A few
years later he left that company and started
Lincoln Motor Company at the age of 74.
Traffic safety is vital for drivers of all ages,
but older drivers experience physical changes
that can affect driving ability -- changes in
vision, reaction time, and flexibility. While
older drivers as a group do have more crashes
than people in their 40s, their individual safety
records differ as much as those of any group.
Here are some things all drivers should pay
attention to, but which are more likely to
affect older drivers.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Older Wiser 2013
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Page 5
Vision
As everyone over 40 knows, eyes change with
age, and usually not for the better. Physically,
the eye’s lenses lose the ability to change focus
quickly, peripheral vision narrows, and the retina
becomes less sensitive to light. The amount of
light needed to drive roughly doubles every 13
years. A 45-year-old requires four times as much
light as a 19-year-old, and a 60-year-old requires
10 times as much. Since 90 percent of decisions
made while driving are based on information
acquired through the eyes, good vision is
crucial to safe driving.
Get regular eye exams.The American Optometric
Association recommends comprehensive eye
exams every two years for persons age 60 and
younger, and annually for those 61 and older.
Cataracts are common and can be corrected with
surgery; the progress of many other eye problems
can be slowed if they are detected in time.
If you have trouble with night vision or glare,
limit driving to daytime hours.
Turn your head frequently to compensate
for diminished peripheral vision.
Keep headlights, mirrors, and windshields
clean – including the glass inside the car.
Add a larger rearview mirror to increase the
range of visibility.
Keep your eyes up – look at the road ahead
to see trouble before you reach it. In the city
look at least one block ahead; on the highway
look at the section of the road you’ll reach in
20 to 30 seconds.
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SENSING • DECIDING • ACTING
Cognition
While older minds may be just as sharp as
younger ones, they react more slowly. Age
lengthens the time it takes the brain to
process information and also makes it harder
to ignore distractions. Reacting to a situation
while driving involves three steps: sensing,
deciding, and acting. For an older driver,
each step takes longer – and possibly so
long that it becomes dangerous. Here are
some ways to help compensate for the natural
tendency to need more time to act:
Leave more room in front of the car.
Allow a greater distance between you and
the vehicle ahead, so you’ll have plenty of
time to stop.
Avoid left turns if you are uncomfortable
making them. You can sometimes make three
right turns to avoid having to make a left.
If you must turn left, pay extra attention to
the speed of the cars coming toward you.
Make sure you have enough time and space
to safely cross oncoming traffic before turning,
and watch for pedestrians who might force you
to stop before you can safely complete your turn.
Eliminate distractions, such as the radio or cell
phone. If people in the car are distracting you,
tell them they’ll have a safer ride if they’re quiet.
Plan to go over your route ahead of time, so you
won’t reach an intersection and have to make a
last-minute decision about which way to turn.
If freeways are confusing or feel too fast-moving,
use side roads. By the same token, if rush hour
is stressful, limit your driving to slower times of
day or use public transportation.
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Fitness
Driving is a physical activity, and a driver who
gets no physical exercise may not have the
strength, flexibility, or coordination to operate
a vehicle safely. Even simply taking a brisk
walk every day may help make you a
safer driver.
Stay physically fit. Walk for at least
20 minutes five times a week or the equivalent.
Gardening, golf, tennis, and other sports can
also help keep you in good physical shape.
Stay mentally active. Using your problem-solving
skills to do jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, or other
non-driving activities can help keep your mind
active and engaged in ways that may help you
behind the wheel. Learning a new skill or hobby
is fun at any age, and helps keep your
mind flexible.
Medication
Medications can interfere with driving by
making the driver drowsy or distracted. This
includes many over-the-counter medications,
such as decongestants or cold remedies. Some
of the worst offenders include tranquilizers,
pain pills, sleep medicines, antidepressants,
cough medicines, and antihistamines.
Read the fine print. If a medication you’re
taking is labeled “Do not use while operating
heavy machinery,” let someone else drive.
Inform your doctor about what non prescription medication you are taking.
This includes alcohol, which can interact with
some drugs and cause serious side effects.
Discuss your medication and its effects
with your doctor or pharmacist.
Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist your
medication, its effects, and how it interacts
with any other drugs you may be taking.
If any medication makes you feel sleepy
or disoriented, don’t drive.
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When to Stop
A driver’s chronological age is not a good
predictor of driving ability. What counts on the
road is performance and both physical and mental
fitness. Here are a few of the signs of diminished
capacity for driving safely:
• Having a series of minor accidents
or near crashes
• Having wandering thoughts or being
unable to concentrate
• Being unable to read ordinary road signs
• Getting lost on familiar roads
• Having other drivers honk at you frequently
• Being spoken to about your driving by
police, family, and friends
Getting Additional Help
Many driver refresher courses are offered in local
communities. These courses can update you on
changes in traffic laws, signs, signals, and markings, and offer safe driving tips. Some also offer
actual behind-the-wheel assessments, which can
be especially helpful in sharpening your driving
skills. Behind-the-wheel assessments are also
offered by some physical rehabilitation specialists;
these can be very important when one’s driving
abilities have been affected by a stroke or other
serious ailment. Contact your local AAA Club
to locate the class nearest you.
Know Your Limits
Being a safe driver means more than avoiding
crashes. It also means paying attention to road
conditions and being aware of your own
changing abilities. Just a few simple adjustments,
such as limiting your driving to certain times or
adding an extra-wide mirror, can help protect
you and those around you from deadly crashes.
By adhering
to these simple
guidelines you, too,
can remain an older
and wiser driver!
And remember -always wear your
safety belt!
Over the Edge
and Back
What to do if you drive
off the pavement edge
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Pavement edge drop-off
Pavement edge drop-off is a common safety
hazard, and is particularly dangerous if the
difference in height between the pavement
and the adjacent surface is two inches or more.
Drop-offs can result from broken pavement,
erosion of an unpaved shoulder, inadequate
maintenance, or the resurfacing of a travel
lane but not its adjacent shoulder.
You may be caught by surprise... suddenly
you feel one or two of your tires drop off
the pavement.
If you do drive off the pavement and do
not know the recommended recovery
technique, you could lose control of your
vehicle and crash into a tree or other object
“Pavement edge
drop-off crashes
are over twice as
likely to be fatal
relative to other
crashes on
similar roads.”
alongside the road, crash into another
vehicle on the road, or even roll over.
Although relatively infrequent compared
to other types of crashes, pavement edge
drop-off crashes are over twice as likely
to be fatal relative to other crashes on
similar roads.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
What to do if you drive
off the pavement edge
You may drive, or be forced, off the road for any
number of reasons, so it’s good to know what
to do—and what not to—if it happens. It’s not
about returning to the road quickly; it’s about
returning to the road safely.
Follow these steps:
• IF THE SHOULDER IS WIDE ENOUGH
AND YOUR PATH IS CLEAR
Continue to look at the road ahead. Drive all
the way onto the shoulder. Gradually stop
and “collect yourself.” Wait for a large gap in
traffic, and then drive back onto the road.
• IF YOU CAN’T DRIVE ALL THE WAY
ONTO THE SHOULDER AND STOP
Continue to look and steer straight ahead.
Do not try to steer back onto the road
immediately—this can cause you to lose
control of your vehicle and crash. For example,
if you’re driving at a high speed and you
suddenly steer sharply, you may accidentally
drive into oncoming traffic. Moreover, if your
tires are close to the pavement edge and you
attempt to drive back onto the road, they may
“scrub” against the edge rather than surmount
it. This makes it very difficult to drive back onto
the road, and you are at risk of overcorrecting,
losing control, and crashing into another
vehicle or roadside object.
• IF THERE ARE NO OBSTACLES
DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU
Steer to “straddle” the pavement edge.
Move the tires that are off the road away from
the pavement edge, and then steer parallel
to it. This will prevent your tires from
scrubbing. Most importantly, continue to
look at the road ahead.
• DO NOT SLAM ON THE BRAKES!
Ease off the gas pedal. If you need to brake,
SCRUBBING: If you drive too close to the pavement edge,
tire scrubbing will make it difficult to return to the road.
brake very gently. If you brake hard while your
tires are on different surfaces, this can cause
your vehicle to skid.
• SLOW DOWN GRADUALLY
Slowing down will help you get back onto the
road without losing control. If there are no
obstacles in front of you, slow down to 25 mph
or less before mounting the pavement.
• TAKE SOME TIME TO “CALM DOWN”
If you have room, drive all the way off the road
and as far onto the shoulder as possible to stop.
STRADDLING: Steer to straddle the pavement edge, moving
the outer tires away from the drop-off.
• WAIT UNTIL IT’S SAFE
After you’ve slowed down or stopped, wait
until there is a gap in traffic. Do not try to drive
back onto the road if there is any traffic in your
lane, or an adjacent or oncoming lane. When
the road is “all clear,” turn the steering wheel
about one-quarter turn to the left. Drive back
onto the pavement. When all of your tires are
on the pavement, steer back to the right
to stay in your lane.
• CALL FOR HELP
If you cannot safely return to the roadway,
drive as far off the pavement as you can,
QUARTER TURN: Turn the steering wheel about one-quarter
turn to the left and drive back onto the pavement.
come to a gradual stop, and call for help.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries
through research into their causes and to educate the public about
strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20005
www.aaafoundation.org
202-638-5944
AAAFTS
AAAFTS
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries
through research into their causes and to educate the public about
strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
STOCK #850
©2013
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20005
www.aaafoundation.org
202-638-5944
AAAFTS
AAAFTS
Road Rage:
How to Avoid
Aggressive
Driving
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries
through research into their causes and to educate the public about
strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries.
STOCK #961
© 2013
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Aggressive driving is a major concern of the
American public and a real threat to the safety of
all road users. In a survey conducted by the AAA
Foundation, nearly 9 in 10 respondents said they
believed aggressive drivers were a “somewhat”
or “very serious” threat to their personal safety.
This same survey found that a substantial number
of drivers admitted to engaging in potentially
aggressive behaviors, such as traveling more than
15 mph above the speed limit, or running a red light.
Any unsafe driving behavior, performed deliberately
and with ill intention or disregard for safety, can
constitute aggressive driving. In fact, a Foundation
study found that potentially aggressive actions –
such as tailgating, erratic lane changing, or illegal
passing – are a factor in up to 56% of fatal crashes.
In extreme cases, this may escalate to road rage,
which is a violent criminal act involving an intention
to cause physical harm. A separate AAA Foundation
study looked at more than 10,000 road rage
incidents committed over seven years, and found
By using the tips in this brochure,
you can avoid becoming a victim.
In the process you may find that
driving has become a completely new
and more enjoyable experience.
they resulted in at least 218 murders and another
12,610 injury cases. When drivers explained why
they became violent, the reasons were often trivial:
“She wouldn’t let me pass,” “They kept tailgating
me,” or, as this driver accused of attempted murder
explained, “He practically ran me off the road – what
was I supposed to do?”
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
How can you avoid being the
victim of an aggressive driver?
Here are three basic guiding principles
that can help:
1
1.
Don't offend
When surveys ask drivers what angers them most,
the results are remarkably consistent. A few
specific behaviors seem unusually likely to enrage
other drivers. You can protect yourself by avoiding them:
Cutting off.
When you merge, make sure you have plenty of room.
Use your turn signal to show your intentions before
making a move. If you make a mistake and accidentally
cut someone off, try to apologize to the other driver
with an appropriate gesture. If someone cuts you off,
slow down and give them room to merge into your lane.
Driving slowly in the left lane.
If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass,
move over and let them by. You may be “in the right”
because you are traveling at the speed limit --- but you
may also be putting yourself in danger by making
drivers behind you angry. In many states and provinces
the law requires you to travel in the right lane and use
the far left lane only for passing. Besides, it’s simple
courtesy to move over and let other drivers by.
Tailgating.
Drivers get angry when they are followed too closely.
Allow at least a two-second space between your car and
the car ahead. [When you see the car pass a fixed point,
you should be able to count at least “one-thousand,
two-thousand” before you pass that point.]
If you think another car is driving too slowly and you
are unable to pass, pull back and allow more space,
not less. That way if the car does something unexpected
you will have time to get out of the way.
You should be able to see the headlights of the car
behind you in your rear-view mirror. If you feel you
are being followed too closely, signal and pull over
to allow the other driver to go by.
Gestures.
Almost nothing makes another driver angrier than
an obscene gesture. Keep your hands on the wheel.
Avoid making any gestures that might anger another
driver, even “harmless” expressions of irritation like
shaking your head.
Be a cautious and courteous driver. Signal every time
you merge or change lanes, and whenever you turn.
Use your horn rarely, if ever. If you and another driver
see a parking space at the same time, let that person
have it. And if another driver seems eager to get in
front of you, say “Be my guest.” When you respond
this way, after a while “be my guest” becomes your
automatic response and you won’t be as offended
by other drivers’ rudeness.
2
Don't engage
One angry driver can’t start a fight unless
another driver is willing to join in. You can
protect yourself against aggressive drivers by
refusing to become angry at them. Orator Robert
Ingersoll said, “Anger blows out the lamp of the
mind.” When angry, a person can do things they may
later regret. If you’re tempted to retaliate against
another driver, think: “Would I want to fly in an
airplane whose pilot was acting like this?” Think
about what kind of a crash your angry actions could
cause. Then cool down and continue your trip.
Steer clear.
Give angry drivers lots of room. A driver you may have
offended can “snap” and become truly dangerous.
If the other driver tries to pick a fight, put as much
distance as possible between your vehicle and the
other car, and then get away as quickly as possible.
Do not under any circumstances pull off to the side
of the road and try to settle things “man to man.”
Avoid eye contact.
If another driver is acting angry with you, don’t make
eye contact. Looking or staring at another driver can
turn an impersonal encounter between two vehicles
into a personal duel. And once things get personal,
the situation can get out of hand fast.
Get help.
If you believe the other driver is following you or is
trying to start a fight, get help. If you have a cell
phone, use it to call the police. Otherwise, drive to a
place where there are people around, such as a police
station, convenience store, shopping center, or even
a hospital. Use your horn to get someone’s attention.
This will usually discourage an aggressor. Do not get
out of your car. Do not go home.
3
Adjust your attitude
The most important actions you can take
to avoid aggressive driving take place inside
your head. By changing your approach to
driving, you can make every trip more pleasant.
Try these ideas for a pleasant change:
Forget winning.
For too many motorists, driving becomes a contest.
Do you allow the shortest possible time for a trip and
then race the clock? If something happens to slow you
down do you get angry? The solution: Allow more time
for your trip. You’ll be amazed at how much more
relaxed you feel when you have a few extra minutes.
So instead of trying to “make good time,” try to
“make time good.” Listen to soothing music or a
book on tape. Practice relaxation techniques, such as
deep breathing. You’ll arrive much calmer, fresher,
and in a less stressed-out frame of mind.
Put yourself in the other driver’s shoes.
Instead of judging the other driver, try to imagine why
he or she is driving that way. Someone speeding and
constantly changing lanes may be a volunteer fireman,
or a physician rushing to a hospital. Someone who jerks
from one lane to another may have a bee in the car or
a crying baby. Whatever their reason, it has nothing to
do with you. Stay cool and don’t take other drivers’
actions personally.
If you think you have a problem, ask for help.
Courses in anger management have been shown to
reduce heart attacks. These same techniques can also
help angry drivers. Drivers who successfully “reinvent”
their approach to the road report dramatic changes
in attitude and behavior. Look for anger management
courses in your area. Self-help books on stress reduction
and anger management can also be helpful.