Analytical Report

Distracted Driving

Arlin Pedregn

Distracted Driving
The Innocent Enemy

Analytical Report

Distracted Driving

Introduction
In order to better understand problems in our
community, Bernalillo County, I was asked
by our consulting firm to determine the
leading cause of car crashes.
Many people consider drinking and driving to
be the main cause for horrific accidents, in
Bernalillo County especially. However,
DISTRACTED DRIVING is to blame for
over 80% of accidents across the United
States and in our county (NBC12.com). Most
researchers claim that texting and driving is
now more dangerous than drinking and
driving (NYTimes.com), simply because we
all use our cell phones every day, while not
everyone consumes alcohol every day
(TextingandDrivingSafety.com).

Arlin Pedregn

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. Distractions include:
Texting
Using a cell phone
Eating/drinking
Talking to passengers
Grooming
Reading, including maps
Using a navigation system
Watching a video

Drinking and driving has been a concerning

Adjusting music
issue in New Mexico for many years now and
has many laws in place to reduce the number
of citizens that do drink and drive. Our
(Distraction.gov)
schools educate students about the dangers of
drinking and driving so it is implanted in our
minds from a very young age that driving
under the influence is bad. However,
everyone gets distracted while driving, so it seems innocent, and is not seen as a criminal offense. The
dangers of distracted drivers are not taught in our schools and are not focused on in drivers education
classes. The purpose of this report is to examine the number of crashes in Bernalillo County and discover
if distracted driving is truly the greatest danger.

Methodology
To find out what causes the broad scope of car accidents in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, I conducted
research from many government and state agencies, news stations, and other organizations dedicated to
road safety. I first examined the average number of crashes in Bernalillo County (Step One). Then, I
looked at different causes and compared the percentage caused by each (Step Two). Lastly, I did some
Project 2: Analytical Report
research as to what may help lessen the number of crashes (Step Three).
Brittney Toon
Ocena, English 219

Analytical Report

Distracted Driving

Arlin Pedregn

Step One

How many crashes are there per year in Bernalillo

County, New Mexico, and throughout the US?

Step Two

What percentage of these accidents is caused by

distracted driving?

Step Three

What laws are in place to prevent distracted

driving in New Mexico?

Results
Step One: How many crashes are there per year in Bernalillo County, New Mexico,
and throughout the US?
According to Fox News, there are more than 40,000 deaths by vehicle accident in the United States each
year. That equals over 100 people per day (FoxNews.com). That is a very drastic number, considering
that 40,000 is the number of deaths and does not include all crashes. Teens make up more than 16% of
these deaths. Because it accounts for 80% of these crashes, distracted driving is the number one cause of
teen death (ChildTrends.org).
In New Mexicos Bernalillo County alone, there have been more than 17,000 car accidents per year
(UNM.edu), every year since 2008 (seen below in Figure 1). However, the number of crashes per year is
slightly decreasing.

Step Two: What percentage of these accidents is caused by distracted driving?

As discussed above, distracted driving can involve any activity that may distract you from focusing on the
road, and causes
approximately 80% of
crashes throughout the US
(NBC12.com). According to
the CDC, 9 people or more
are killed EACH DAY, and
at least 1,060 people are
injured each day in the US
alone, due to distracted
driving (CDC.org). As you
can see in Figure 1, the
Figure 1: Bernalillo County
number of accidents caused
Crash History (UNM.edu)
by distracted driving greatly
exceeds the number of
accidents caused by drunk driving in Bernalillo County.

Analytical Report

Distracted Driving

Arlin Pedregn

That being said, cellphone

use is the top distractor.
Cellphone use alone causes
23% of all auto accidents in
the US in 2011
(bisociety.org). This equaled
1.3 Million crashes in 2011,
and has increased to 1.6
Million (25%) crashes per
year since then
(bisociety.org).

phones in the United States.

Figure 2:
(OUNewsBureau.com)

See Figure 2 (left) for more

statistics on driving with cell

Step Three: What laws are in place to prevent distracted driving in New Mexico?
In most states, like Utah, New York, Nebraska, Arkansas, Alaska, etc. texting while driving is illegal. In
others, like Arizona, Montana, South Dakota, and South Carolina, there is no ban for texting while
driving. Then, in other states, like Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, and our state, New Mexico,
there is only a partial ban in place (MotherJones.com). See the map below for all states, their bans, and
their fines.

Figure 3: How much does your state fine for texting and
driving? (MotherJones.com)
Note: Each amount shown is for first-time offense of texting while
driving.

Analytical Report

Distracted Driving

Novice Driver: The definition

of a Novice Driver differs from state
to state, but usually refers a driver
that is under the age of 18. Some
states consider all drivers under 21
to be Novice Drivers while other
states consider anyone with a
provisional/intermediate license to
be Novice Drivers (Distraction.gov).

Arlin Pedregn

Usually in the states that only have partial bans, including

New Mexico, only bus drivers and/or new drivers, formally
called Novice Drivers, have the no texting restriction.
However, New Mexico now includes all drivers in the no
texting ban, this was effective in July 2014. First time
offenders receive a $25 fine. Repeat offenders receive a $50
fine (NewsChannel10.com).
New Mexico also uses a GDL (Graduated Driver
Licensing) program. A GDL has three stages: Stage One,
Instructional Permit, Stage Two, Provisional License, and
Stage Three, Full License (MVD.NewMexico.gov). We use
a GDL system in attempt to prepare our drivers completely
before allowing them to drive on their own.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Though we have the GDL system in place, and a No Texting While Driving ban, there are still many
accidents and deaths that could be prevented. Every time someone uses a cellphone, eats, or fidgets with a
GPS while driving, they put others in danger. The laws we have in place are very lenient compared to
other states, and we have very little education about the dangers of distracted driving circulating through
our state. I believe the following recommendations would significantly decrease the number of accidents
in our county caused by distracted driving.

Increase the repercussions associated with

texting while driving for those with a full
license.
Revoke provisional licenses or learners
permits until the driver is 21 years old if
caught texting, watching videos, or
grooming while driving.
Set a heftier fine for anyone caught
driving while obviously distracted ($200$500 modeled after states such as NY,
SC, UT, etc.) in comparison to the current
<$50 fee.
Adding more educational programs that
teach our youth that distracted driving is
not innocent and that it is as dangerous as
drinking and driving.
Figure 4: What Could Influence Teens to Give Up Cellphone Use While Driving? (TeenDriverSource.org)

Analytical Report

Distracted Driving

Arlin Pedregn

According to Teen Drive Source, 64% of teens would give up cell phone use while driving if their
license was revoked if caught (TeenDriverSource.org). This is by far the most effective way to decrease
the number of crashes by cellphone use. Because cellphone use is the greatest contributor to distracted
driving, there would be a phenomenal decrease in the number of crashes in our county. With some or all
of these recommendations, we will make our roads safer, save money from accidents, and most
importantly, save lives.

Analytical Report

Distracted Driving

Arlin Pedregn

Works Cited
Bernalillo County Crash History. Traffic Research Unit, University of New Mexico. SEPTEMBER 30, 2013.
Web. March 24, 2016.
<http://www.unm.edu/~dgrint/reports/crashhistory/countyperpop/cny0811/BernalilloCounty.html>.
Blevins, Sunni. 80 Percent of Crashes Caused by Distracted Driving. NBC12. Apr 28, 2010. Web. March 24,
2016. < http://www.nbc12.com/story/12390065/80-percent-of-crashes-caused-by-distracted-driving>.
Car Crashes Kill 40,000 in U.S. Every Year. Fox News. WebMD, February 3, 2005. Web. March 24, 2016.
<http://www.foxnews.com/story/2005/02/03/car-crashes-kill-40000-in-us-every-year/>.
Chang, Richard S. Texting Is More Dangerous Than Driving Drunk. New York Times. June 25, 2009. Web. March
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<http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/>.
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Hansen-Bundy, Benjy and Raja, Tasneem. How Much Does Your State Fine For Texting and Driving?. Mother
Jones. October 25, 2013. Web. March 24, 2016. <http://www.motherjones.com/media/2013/10/numberstexting-and-driving>.
Horwitz, Amanda. Law Bans Cell Phones for Teen Drivers. OU News Bureau. NP. Web. March 26, 2016.
<http://www.ounewsbureau.com/?p=4073>.
How to Apply for a Leaners Permit. MVD, New Mexico. NP. March 24, 2016.
<http://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/apply-for-a-learner-s-permit.aspx>.
Masters, Jacob. Texting While Driving Vs. Drunk Driving: Which Is More Dangerous?. Brain Injury Society.
October 27, 2013. Web. March 24, 2016. <http://www.bisociety.org/texting-while-driving-vs-drunkdriving-which-is-more-dangerous/>.
New Mexico Texting Ban Signed Into Law. News Channel 10. Mar 03, 2014. Web. March 24, 2016.
<http://www.newschannel10.com/story/24870474/new-mexico-texting-ban-signed-into-law>.
United States Congress, Senate, Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. "Combating Distracted
Driving: Managing Behavioral and Technological Risks: Hearing before the Committee on Commerce,
Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, first session, October 28,2009. Published 2010. April 10, 2014.
What Could Influence Teens to Give Up Cellphone Use While Driving?. Teen Driver Source, The Childrens
Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute. NP. Web. March 24, 2016.
<http://www.teendriversource.org/>.