Charcuterie at the Wheel? Distracted Driving Worsens

Have you ever glared over at another driver, and seen them picking at a FULL CHARCUTERIE PLATTER while driving?

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month . . . and in a new report, 86% of drivers admit to being distracted by technology, usually their phones.  But that isn’t the only thing keeping our focus off the road.

Here are some other things people cop to doing . . .

“Getting Ready” While Driving.  27% of drivers admit to working on their appearance while driving . . . that’s changing clothes, shaving, putting on makeup, or painting their nails.  And among Gen Z drivers, that number jumps to 50%.

Eating While Driving.  It isn’t just snacking.  A whopping 72% of people who eat while driving admit they’ve tried some RISKY meals, like eating BBQ ribs or a bowl of hot soup.  (???)

Creating “Content” While Driving.  74% of people say the most embarrassing distraction is filming videos or creating social media content while driving.  If you haven’t done this, you’ve probably seen SOMEONE who filmed a video not just in the car, but while it’s in motion.

Stress and Anxiety.  20% of drivers say stress from work or school, or relationship issues, can mess with their focus behind the wheel.

The report also includes a map of “distracted driving” hotspots throughout the country . . . and the MOST distracted states are in the Southwest, like California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado.

Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, and Connecticut are also danger zones.

The rest of the South is somewhat dangerous, up into West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.  The areas with LOW levels of distracted driving are in the Northwest and Northeast, including New York state.

And the SAFEST states are in lesser populated Middle America, including Montana, Wyoming, both Dakotas, and Minnesota.  Maine and Vermont are also rated as safe.

(Life 360)