Everyone has the power to make a difference in highway safety. The Maryland Highway Safety Foundation is committed to empowering Maryland motorists by providing them with the information, tools and knowledge they need to make wise decisions when driving on our roads and highways.
A number of factors influence the safety of our roads and drivers. To learn more, please continue reading and share the information with your friends and family.
Motorists face numerous driving hazards while behind the wheel. According to the Roadway Safety Foundation, there are nine potentially hazardous roadway conditions that all motorists need to be aware of. These include:
- Roadway departure hazards
- Road surface conditions
- Narrow roadways and bridges
- Railroad crossings
- Work zones
- Intersections
- Roadway design limitations
- Roadway access problems
- Pedestrian and bicycle traffic
By being aware of your surroundings while driving, following warning signs and anticipating hazards, you can greatly minimize your risk of getting into a collision.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving can be defined as any non-driving activity that a person engages in that has the potential to distract them from their primary task of driving and increase their risk of crashing. In 2008, more than 6,000 people died in distracted driving related crashes and over half a million were injured.
NHTSA identifies three main types of distractions while driving:
- Visual — taking your eyes off of the road
- Manual — taking your hands off of the wheel
- Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing
Many distracting activities incorporate two or more of these types of distractions. Examples of distracting activities can include, but are not limited to:
- Texting
- Talking on a hand-held cell phone
- Using a PDA or GPS device
- Reading (including maps and directions)
- Changing the radio station, CD, or MP3 player
- Eating and drinking
- Talking to passengers
- Grooming
Though all distractions can endanger the safety of drivers, the MHSF believes that texting while driving and using a hand-held cell phone are among the most dangerous. A study by NHTSA estimates that during any given time in daylight hours, over 800,000 drivers in the US are being distracted by someone using a cell phone.
Many Maryland drivers frequently use their hand-held cell phones to make calls while driving. Our legislators have become aware of the dangers to our community and have taken action to combat this dangerous behavior. Writing or sending a text message while driving is illegal in Maryland. As of October 1, 2010 it will also be illegal to use your hand-held cell phone while driving.
For more information about Maryland’s new hand-held cell phone law, please click here.
Impaired Driving
According to the AAA Foundation, alcohol is a factor in about 32 percent of the more than 37,000 deaths that occur each year in vehicle crashes. In 2008 crashes involving a driver with a BAC of .08 or higher, 11,773 individuals lost their lives.
Driving while impaired is deadly. Despite raised awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving in our society and in Maryland driver education courses, alcohol-related crashes are still prevalent. A recent poll has shown that one in every five college students has driven while intoxicated, and 40% of those polled have admitted to being a passenger in a vehicle driven by a drunk driver.
Decreasing the high numbers of fatalities and injuries due to driving while impaired begins with our own personal choices. Make the decision to never drink and drive, and talk to your friends and families about the dangers of doing so. By setting an example among our family members and friends, we can begin to change a culture, lower these numbers and save lives.
Aggressive Driving
We’ve all shared the road with an aggressive driver. NHTSA defines aggressive driving as when individuals commit a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property. They can be seen speeding, following too closely, changing lanes erratically, and even disobeying traffic control devices such as red lights. Aggressive drivers are unconcerned with the rules of the road and the safety of other motorists.
The AAA Foundation offers some tips on how to combat aggressive driving. These include:
- Be a courteous and patient driver.
- Plan your trip ahead of time.
- Use your turn signals and give plenty of warning.
- Obey the speed limit.
- Be aware of alternative routes to your destination.
- Avoid dangerous interactions and confrontations.
- Get out of the way and allow an aggressive driver to pass.
- Never challenge an aggressive driver.