Bethel Park district judge: Be wary of distracted drivers

The national statistics about distracted driving are downright scary. And with the start of school just around the corner, the numbers could get even worse, according to a local magistrate.
“Distracted driving is a big problem, but that problem is compounded when driving in or near a school zone,” District Judge Ronald Arnoni said. “A driver has a 23 times greater chance of being in an accident when texting while driving.”
The statistics back up Arnoni, whose district served Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the percentage of drivers texting or visibly manipulating handheld devices increased from 1.7 percent in 2013 to 2.2 percent in 2014, The NHTSA said that on given any daylight hour in the country, there are 660,000 drivers using cell phones or other electronic devices. Plus, in 2014 the NHTSA said 3,179 people were killed and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
“It’s a violation of the law,” Arnoni said. “People may be using their GPS, but it is not in a proper device.”
Texting or talking on a cellphone, or using it to take a photograph, is not the only means of diverting a driver’s attention.
“Having a pet in your lap or in the front seat area can be a distraction,” Arnoni said. “Several states have pending laws that will make this illegal.”
Other driving distractions include loud music, eating, conversations and adjusting climate or radio controls.
Reduced speed limits, usually 15 mph, are enforced in active school zones.
“Although drivers may find this inconvenient, slowing down is necessary with dropping off or picking up children, school bus traffic, and children walking or riding bicycles to and from school,” Arnoni said.
Motorists who are driving in a school zone, he said, should remember that it is difficult for children, because of their size, to see vehicles coming, and for motorists to see them. A child’s peripheral vision is one-third narrower than that of an adult, meaning hthe youngster can’t see a motorist approaching from the right or left as fast as an adult can. They have trouble judging speed and distance, and generally are unpredictable.
“Teen drivers are distracted more easily,” Arnoni said. “Drivers under the age of 20 make up 6.4 percent of the drivers on the road, but account for 11.4 percent of traffic fatalities.”
Every distracted second counts, said Arnoni, adding that when a driver looks down at a cell phone for four seconds, the vehicle could travel the length of a football field. “Use an app to curb your bad habits,” he said. “There are smart phone apps that automatically shut off text messaging while driving. The app can also temporarily stop incoming calls.”