Free Hands Do Not Mean Free Minds

As a psychologist specializing in treating victims of auto crashes, many of my patients face life long disabilities and pain due to injuries resulting from crashes that resulted from the actions of distracted drivers. It is likely no surprise that the cell phone is the number one problem when it comes to motor vehicle trauma caused by distracted drivers.

Neal E. Boudette, the Wall Street Journal’s Detroit Bureau Chief in a November 15, 2016, article in the New York Times, quoted Deborah Hersman, president of the National Safety Board as saying that the auto industries focus on creating hands free technology instead of reducing distracted driving may in fact encourage even more phone use when driving. Boudette in a February 15, 2017, New York Times follow-up noted that the National Safety Council estimates 40,200 people died in 2016 motor vehicle crashes, which is a 6 percent increase from 2015. While clearly cell phone distraction is not the only factor. Other forms of distraction such as talking with passengers along with drinking, speeding, seatbelt issues and increased road use are identified factors.

During the senate confirmation of the Trump administration’s U.S. Secretary of Transportation’s nominee, Elaine L. Chao, Senator Markey referred to cars as being “computers on wheels” and expressed concerns about the possibilities of cars being hacked causing safety as well as privacy concerns. While acknowledging these potential problems, Secretary Chao emphasized the importance of remaining open to new technologies and to continue looking for creative solutions to the problems involving auto transportation. For example, Secretary Chao talked about how fully autonomous vehicles would return independence to senior citizens who had been forced to give up driving due to impairments.

According to Boudette the Department of Transportation announced in October, 2016 plans to work with the National Safety Council and other advocacy groups to craft a “Road to Zero” strategy with the goal of reducing highway deaths to zero within 30 years. Boudette cited from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is the government’s main auto-safety agency, indicating that about half of all traffic fatalities involve unbelted occupants and nearly a third of the drivers are impaired by drugs or alcohol. It is clear there are other human factors besides distraction from phone use at play that must continue to be vigorously addressed in public policies concerning auto transportation in the United States. The October roll-out of the Road to Zero initiative placed heavy emphasis on the promise of autonomous vehicles.

In my last blog article I wrote about the fear of self-driving cars, and the belief that while the loss of control will be anxiety provoking for many, autonomous vehicles may be our best hope given the pervasive human inability to control high risk driving behaviors. Boudette’s article suggests famed consumer advocate Ralph Nader would disagree with me. Nader believes instead of autonomous vehicles, a wide range of measures are needed to reduce the number of vehicle crashes, such as more traffic cameras, more seat-belt laws, and more regulations. In the coming months and years, as a society we are headed for many debates regarding the issue of road safety. In the meantime, my patients are living with the daily consequence of unsafe driver behavior that limit their ability to function as they once did prior to their car collision injuries. I hope the victims of auto crashes will have a loud voice in the debate. Their voices will put faces on the high stakes involved in the roulette of taking to the roadways that will help to guide the pens of policy makers.