4 Topic Commentaries

The 4-Second Blind Spot

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  Sheila "Charlie" Klauer, PhD

  Human factors engineering; driver distraction and road safety

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  Virginia Tech

  The danger increases exponentially when drivers take their eyes off the forward roadway for extended periods of time for any distracting task.

  Source
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  David L. Strayer, PhD

  Cognitive psychology; attention and driver distraction

  •

  University of Utah

  This is troublesome because motorists may assume that features that are enabled when they are driving are safe and easy to use.

  Source
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  Todd M. Emanuel, R.N.

  Pediatric trauma nursing; injury prevention education

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  Mayo Clinic

  Taking your eyes off the road to look down at the phone for five seconds or less is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded.

  Source
• 

  Jay A. Winsten, PhD

  Health communication; injury prevention and road safety

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  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

  It takes 4.6 seconds on average to draft and send a text message. At 50 miles an hour, that’s the equivalent of driving the length of a football field blindfolded.

  Source