Say 'no' to distracted driving Published April 15, 2014 By Tech. Sgt. Mike Hawkins Safety Office U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Hitting the road may be part of the American experience, but due to the advent of cell phones and social media during the last 20 years, driving has become far more dangerous. This is why the Air Force's Academy has joined with the National Safety Council to promote National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Drivers rely on three distinct functions: visual - their eyes on the road; mechanical - their hands on the wheel; and cognitive - their overall situational awareness while operating a motor vehicle. Anything that detracts from these functions raises the chance of a motor vehicle accident. The NSC reports that 26 percent of the 1.2 million vehicle crashes that occurred in the United States in 2012 involved cell phones and motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for those 5 to 24 years old. Across the Air Force this year, 147 motor vehicle accidents have been reported and 16 have died in vehicle mishaps. According to the NSC, talking on a cell phone increases the likelihood of a crash four times. Other dangers include reading while driving, reaching for a moving object and turning around in the driver's seat. We might ask if using a hands-free device is safer, but by all indications the answer is "no." A study at the University of Utah in 2004 revealed there is no difference between using a hand-held or hands-free device as both take a drivers mind off the task at hand - arriving safely at their destination. The study showed cell phone users - i.e. "distracted drivers" - have slower reaction times and are more likely to crash than drivers with a .08 blood-alcohol level. Some could argue that there isn't a difference between using a hands-free device and talking to people in the vehicle, but according to the NSC, this is a false comparison: When you have passengers in your vehicle they're part of your driving experience. If something happens that requires you to make emergency or sudden maneuvers, the conversation comes to a screeching halt and all occupants are immediately involved in the situation. When you're conversing on a device with someone outside your vehicle, the talking never stops and this results in a much greater level of distraction for the driver. Let's make a conscious effort to promote National Distracted Driver Awareness Month across the Academy and to our loved ones, friends and Airmen. Let's put our cell phones and hands-free devices while driving and focus on safely getting to our destination. The Defense Department has banned the use of cell phones while driving on all federal installations. For more information, see your unit safety representative or visit www.nsc.org or www.afsec.af.mil.