80% of crashes and 65% of near crashes occur with three seconds of a multitasking episode involving physical movement. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration & Virginia Tech Transportation Institute)

Notice that this is not even taking into account mental lapses while we work though an office problem or personal dilemma. We’ve all been guilty of doing more than one thing at a time, and driving can seem like the perfect opportunity to eat your lunch on the way to an appointment or catch up on phone calls.

Where do you fall into the Driving & Multitasking grid?

• 75% Drinking coffee, water, or soda
• 70% Talking on a cell phone
• 54% Eating
• 37% Sending text messages
• 21% Reading
• 11% Writing
• 6% Email
• 5% Grooming

Best Life magazine found that even if a commute is 15 minutes or less, the multitasking occurs. It is natural to try and do something extra during that car time in order to save time at the destination. However the loss of time when there is a highway accident, whether it involves you or someone else, can take away any savings.

We know instinctively that the guy driving next to us is not good at multitasking, and so we steer clear when he’s on a cell phone or reading. For yourself, keep in mind that you will get more done when you focus on one thing and then another rather than trying to do two or three things at one time.