April is national Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to the latest data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 3,275 lives in 2023. That number is in reality probably higher, since distracted driving is likely underreported.
A few years ago Lexus released a video highlighting the dangers of texting while driving- to disprove the misconception that texting and driving creates only a momentary distraction. The average length of time it actually takes to send or receive a text message when you're behind the wheel is 4.6 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
In the video called "Driving Disrupted," Lexus demonstrates exactly what happens when drivers can no longer see the road for 4.6 seconds. Participants get behind the wheel of a Lexus NX on a closed course, thinking they're taking the vehicle for a routine test drive. But they're not driving an ordinary NX. They're driving a one-of-a-kind specially modified vehicle called the NX 4.6. It's equipped with electrochromic technology that turns the windshield and windows from transparent to opaque instantaneously, completely obscuring the driver's view for 4.6 seconds. The video captures the chaos that ensues. If you have a young driver in your house OR if you occasionally text and drive, take a couple of minutes and watch!
Watch this incredibly impactful video here:
"Lexus wants to bring awareness to safety behind the wheel by changing perceptions about texting and driving," said Vinay Shahani, vice president of Lexus marketing. "Even the most advanced safety systems on the road today can't replace the undivided attention of the driver."
Want free distracted driving educational resources? Visit the National Safety Council click here.
Photo Credit: Lexus.