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It's official: Distracted drivers are dangerous
 A study says activities like dialing a cell phone while driving triple the risk of a crash. RELATEDQUICKVOTEYOUR E-MAIL ALERTS(CNN) -- A new study lends scientific credence to what many already suspect: Drivers dabbing on makeup, chatting on cell phones or eating breakfast are three times as likely to be involved in a crash as more attentive motorists. The study tracked drivers with video cameras and sensors and offered evidence that inattentive driving causes accidents, and young drivers are much more likely to have such crashes. Almost 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes happen within three seconds of some form of driver distraction, according to the report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. (Watch cameras catch drivers driven to distraction -- 2:28) The two research groups monitored the behavior of 241 drivers in 100 vehicles for more than a year. During the 2 million miles of the study, the drivers were involved in 82 crashes and 761 near-crashes. Reaching for a moving object multiplied the risk of a crash or near-crash by nine times, according to the study. Reading, applying makeup, or dialing a handheld device tripled the risk. "All of these activities are much more dangerous than we thought before," Dr. Charlie Klauer, a senior research associate at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. "But also we're very concerned about the fact that not only are we drinking our coffee and we're disciplining our children and we're eating sandwiches in the car, but the proliferation of technologies in the vehicle have just exacerbated the amount of time that drivers are distracted," she said. Using cell phones was the most common distraction for drivers, the study found. And while talking on a cell phone was less risky than dialing, it was a factor in almost as many crashes because it was done far more often, the researchers said. (Top causes of crashes) Drowsiness is also a problem, the researchers found. They said drowsy drivers are four times as likely to have a crash or near-crash. Overall, drowsiness contributed to more than 22 percent of the crashes and near-misses recorded -- far higher than existing estimates that tiredness is a factor in 1 out of 10 accidents, the analysts said. "This important research illustrates the potentially dire consequences that can occur while driving distracted or drowsy," said Jacqueline Glassman, acting administrator of NHTSA. "It's crucial that drivers always be alert when on the road." The study found that drivers between 18 and 20 were four times as likely to have inattention-related crashes and near-crashes as drivers over 35. Poor judgment, such as driving aggressively or trying to do something in a higher risk situation, was far more prevalent among the youngest, the evidence showed. The study said any look away from the road ahead -- even a glance in a rearview mirror -- could be deemed a distraction. But long glances at inopportune moments, such as "rubbernecking" near a crash, doubled a driver's chances of having an accident himself. Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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