“Driver’s Ed” instructors have always warned: Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. But with more employees driving greater distances to get to work, more cars clogging roadways, and more technology at drivers’ fingertips — cell phones, faxes, email, on-board navigation systems — it’s more tempting than ever to try to get some work done while you’re behind the wheel.
Some driving distractions have posed risks since autos first rolled off the line: talking, eating, drinking, combing your hair. Now safety risks posed by a growing array of in-vehicle devices are coming under greater scrutiny. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey found that 44 percent of drivers have phones in their vehicles or carry phones while driving; seven percent have email access, and three percent have fax capabilities. On-board navigation systems and entertainment systems are also becoming more popular.