DRIVE SMART DRIVING SCHOOL C2830

Why Your Brain Can’t Drive and Text at the Same Time: The Science of Distracted Driving

Written by

Rodney Crawford

in

Introduction

Hey everyone!
Today, we’re going to talk about something super important for all future drivers—distracted driving. Even though most of you aren’t driving yet, the habits you form now will shape how safe you’ll be behind the wheel. Plus, we all know people who drive—parents, older siblings, friends—so you can help keep them safe, too.

What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is anything that takes your attention away from driving. This includes:

  • Texting or talking on the phone
  • Eating or drinking
  • Talking to passengers
  • Fiddling with the radio or GPS

But why is it so dangerous?

Divided Attention: How Your Brain Works

Your brain is powerful, but it has limits!
There’s something called divided attention—the ability to focus on more than one thing at a time.
Here’s the truth: our brains aren’t great at multitasking, especially when it comes to things that require a lot of focus—like driving.

Let’s do a quick activity:

  • Try counting to 10 out loud.
  • Now try reciting the alphabet (A to J) at the same time.

Hard, right? Your brain flips back and forth between the two tasks, which slows you down and leads to mistakes. This is divided attention in action.

University of Utah Research: The Science

The University of Utah did some amazing studies on distracted driving. Here’s what they found:

  • People who talk on cell phones while driving (even hands-free) are as impaired as drunk drivers!
    (Source)
  • The researchers found that our brains can’t handle texting or talking and driving at the same time.
    When we try, our reaction time slows down, we miss important things (like stop signs or people crossing the street), and we’re much more likely to crash.
  • Even talking to someone in the car is safer than talking on the phone. Why? Because passengers can see the road and usually stop talking if things get dangerous.

Shocking Facts

  • Texting while driving increases the risk of crashing by 23 times.
  • Every day, about 8 people in the US die in crashes involving distracted drivers (CDC).
  • Teen drivers are 4x more likely than adults to get into car crashes while using a phone.

Real Life Stories

[Share a brief story or news clip about a teen whose life changed due to distracted driving—optional, but powerful.]

What Can You Do?

  1. Set the example. Don’t use your phone in the car.
  2. Speak up. If you’re riding with someone who’s distracted, ask them to stop.
  3. Plan ahead. Set up your music or GPS before you drive.
  4. Spread the word. Educate friends and family.

Takeaway

Remember: No text or call is worth your life or someone else’s.
Your brain can do amazing things, but it can’t drive safely when it’s distracted!

Questions & Discussion

  • Why do you think people keep texting or talking on the phone while driving, even if they know it’s dangerous?
  • How could you convince your friends or family to put the phone down in the car?

Sources:

More posts