Driver’s ability

The question then arises -- How does this effort at multitasking affect our driving? As drivers, the likelihood of avoid any hazard depends largely on our ability to first perceive the hazard, and then take appropriate action to avoid it. The proper response can mean the difference between safely avoiding a road hazard and causing an accident. The margin of mistake is often only a matter of seconds. If the driver is engaged in an activity such as texting on a phone or adjusting the radio, the brain is less likely to perceive road hazards in enough time to allow for a safe response. Other driver-based decisions also lead to car accidents, and they can operate in much the same way as distraction. According to recent statistics compiled by the NHTSA, alcohol was a factor in more than 40% of all auto fatalities. A driver’s decision to consume alcohol and then get behind the wheel of a car results in decreased reaction time, poor vision, and poor decision-making. Driving while fatigued has similar effects on drivers. Not only is a exhausted driver more likely to fall asleep while driving, but fatigue also slows reaction times when it comes to responding to hazards on the road. An intoxicated driver or a fatigued driver is much more likely to miss a traffic manage signal such as a stop sign, compared with an alert driver. Speeding is another source of driver error, and it is a common cause of accidents among young drivers. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), teen drivers are more likely to pace than adult drivers, and male teens are more likely to speed compared with their female counterparts. Those most likely to speed are also the least experienced drivers, and the least equipped to deal with a high-speed hazard encountered while driving. Poor decision-making also leads drivers to drive too fast for local conditions such as poor weather or bad visibility.