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Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is dangerous — not just for drivers but for everyone on the road.

Motor vehicle accidents can cause power outages in Central Hudson’s service area. Beyond service disruptions, distracted driving puts Central Hudson employees at risk as they work along roadways repairing electrical and gas infrastructure, reading meters, and performing other essential tasks.

 

Why It Matters

A driver’s ability to see, react, and recognize changes on the road is compromised when attention is divided. That’s why Central Hudson urges all drivers to eliminate distractions and focus on safety.

 

The Risks

  • The National Safety Council reports that 26% of automobile accidents involve cell phone use, including hands-free options.
  • Drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in an accident.

 

Making Safety a Priority

Central Hudson has strict policies regarding employee cell phone use while driving. Distracted driving can change lives in an instant, and we all have a responsibility to keep roads safe.

Make safe driving your priority — it’s the right thing to do.

 

Resources

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NYS Fines and Penalties
Distracted driving can result in hundreds of dollars in fines, points on the driver's license and a suspended license for probationary and junior drivers.
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Video: A Family Changed
Cindy Cooper talks about her father's fatal cell phone-related crash and the impact of that loss on her family.

BY THE NUMBERS


OUTAGE IMPACT

Outages caused by vehicle accidents in Central Hudson's service territory increased 15% between 2012-2015 and the number of customers impacted by those outages was up 75% in 2016 because these accidents often involve electric facilities on busy roadways that serve many customers.

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DEADLY RESULTS

According to the National Safety Council, distracted driving accounts for
26% of automobile accidents — the third-leading cause behind alcohol (30.8%) and speeding (30%). The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that distraction now contributes to 16% of all fatal accidents, and that number is believed to be significantly underreported since it's often difficult to prove distracted driving caused an accident. 

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OVERLOOKED DANGER

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey found that nearly 30% of drivers ages 21-34 said texting has no impact on their driving ability.

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MULTITASKING MYTH

According to the National Safety Council, the activity in the brain that processes moving images decreases up to 33% when listening to talking on a phone.

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PARENTS COPIED

Teens of parents who drive distracted are three times more likely to drive distracted themselves.

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SECONDS MATTER

Five seconds. That's the time it takes to sneak a glance at your smartphone to see who texted you. ... But in just five seconds, a car at highway speed can race the length of a football field.