Kicking the Habit: End the Distractions

Written by Judy Bortman

On July 1, 2014, penalties for using a handheld cell phone while driving increase significantly in New Jersey. While I don't use a handheld cell phone or even talk hands-free while driving, this got me thinking about changing a habit and what it takes to alter behavior.

Would motorists actually put down their cell phones because fines are doubling? Does talking trump higher fines? Do most drivers perceive they're immune from the law and don't expect to be caught? 

In his book, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, Malcolm Gladwell explained the sociological changes that mark everyday life. He defined a tipping point as "the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point." It's where change begins. 

Could higher fines and greater penalties for using a handheld cell phone become a motorist's "tipping point?" And if so, how long would it take for a motorist to actually change the handheld habit by their own volition?

The Tipping Point: Where Change Begins

If we applied Mr. Gladwell's theory to technology, the tipping point would be the time when a product jumps from use by early adopters to become mainstream. Think Google Glass. Right now the curious looking spectacles are expensive, worn by a few, admired by some and stared at by many.

Google Glass

Someday down the road, however, Google Glass will likely be affordable and the norm. No one will be staring. But that change will take time just as, with time, other driving laws have become second nature.

We know that it's against the law to drink and drive and literally stupid to not use seat belts. Some years ago not everyone felt this way. Laws were made and enforced, media stories and outreach by organizations such as TransOptions increased awareness, life-saving data was tallied and, in time, behavior changed. As an example, New Jersey's seat belt law first went into effect on March 1, 1985. Today, over 93 percent of NJ motorists observe that law. Is it only a matter of time before not holding a cell phone is also the norm?  If so, how long should it take?

I had heard that it takes 21 days to change a habit. After moving to a new home or starting a new job, it's true that life and surroundings seem more familiar, comfortable and "routine" after three weeks.

The 21 day change theory was started in the 1950s by a plastic surgeon named Maxwell Maltz. He noticed a pattern among his patients about 21 days after surgery by observing how they adapted to seeing changes to their bodies. In 1960 Maltz published his thoughts in a book called Psycho-Cybernetics that became a blockbuster hit and has influenced motivational speakers and change-theorists to this day. 

"It takes (a minimum of) 21 days to form a new habit." -Maxwell Maltz

Twenty-one days seemed like a small window of time to form a new habit, especially one so ingrained as holding a cell phone while driving. Some searching led me to a study by Phillippa Lally published in 2009 in the European Journal of Social Psychology. Lally and her research group wanted to find out how long it actually takes to form a habit. 

They studied the "new" habits of 96 people during a 12-week period to note when their behavior felt automatic. At the end of the 12 weeks, researchers analyzed the data to determine the behavioral "tipping point."

Their finding?  On average it took more than two months for a new behavior to become automatic – an average of 66 days.  Realistically, they found it actually may take from two to eight months to create a new life behavior. 

About 20 years ago I worked for a division of Novell, a company that was leading the shift to sharing files on local area networks. This networking revolution met resistance because it was a new concept and would end the dominance of mainframe computers.

Novell's model changed computing and it didn't happen overnight. Ray Noorda was president during this dynamic time (1983-1994). His quote about change is still cited and rings true to this day: 

If you're still using a handheld cell phone, this is a good time to think about embracing change, focusing on driving when you're behind the wheel and altering what's become a habit.

Start by putting a message on your cellphone voice mail saying that you're either not available or driving and will return the call as soon as possible. Place your phone on mute while driving so you're not tempted to answer. Try putting it in a purse, bag, briefcase or even the back seat so that it’s not readily accessible while driving.

And if you're a parent, just think of the example you’re setting for your children.  From the minute the "car seat turns around" your child can see you driving. Let's hope they mimic what you do and down the road won’t have to change.

Avoiding the Peril that Lurks in Parking Lots

Written by Judy Bortman

Next time you pull into a shopping center to do an errand, ask yourself about the most "stressful" part of your outing. Was it navigating the parking lot? Did you have a close encounter with a car or pedestrian while getting to and from the store entrance? 

Parking lot peril is a real and growing concern. And there's data to prove it. Recently Nationwide Insurance claims data revealed that 13% of automobile accidents occur in parking lots where distractions abound. A 2014 New Jersey study showed that distracted drivers caused nearly half of the 1.4 million crashes that occurred in our State during the last ten years. Tragically, 1,600 people were killed by inattentive motorists.

"I don't get no respect!"

Parking lots are a growing danger zone and yet most people ignore them. Comedian Rodney Dangerfield often said, "I don’t get no respect." Perhaps it’s time we start respecting parking lots. We know that they are busy places where the unexpected can occur. And often does. But do we pass through those shared road/walk areas with more caution? Usually not.

I began to wonder if awareness of parking lot peril was increasing and found it was popping up on radar screens nationwide. Last November, in time for holiday shopping, a safety campaign called HeadsUp in Parking Lots was launched as a collaboration between government, property owners and retailers in Montgomery County, Maryland, (near Washington, D.C.) to address a 50% increase in parking lot collisions that occurred in the last five years. A startling one-third of Montgomery County pedestrian accidents occurred in parking lots and garages resulting in 300 people being injured, 100 of them seriously. Perhaps not surprisingly, 80% were the fault of motorists.

But how can we address the problem?

A resourceful parent in Michigan created Parking Pal as an antidote to manage the stress and safety concerns she faced in parking lots during shopping trips with her three young children. Parking Pal is a colorful magnet  with a handprint showing children where to place their hand to stand safely in place while the adult is loading or unloading the vehicle or momentarily occupied otherwise. Parking Pal has earned rave reviews from parents for helping to avoid to a potentially dangerous situation. 

Another peril-reducing parking lot strategy is to park farther away from a store rather than waiting for a closer space by the entrance. You'll park more quickly, free up traffic and get a bit more exercise from walking a few more steps. Even better is finding a parking space where you can "pull through" and exit the space by driving forward. 

Parking lot peril can occur even without being on a cell phone or driving a vehicle.  Have you ever parked your car in a shopping center or at an office complex and had trouble finding it again? Suddenly you’re transformed into a distracted pedestrian who's wandering between rows of parked cars searching what seems like endlessly for your vehicle. Some easy solutions help reduce your peril.

If you have a smart phone, try taking a picture of the sign identifying the row where you've parked. A simpler option is to make a mental note of a landmark or a parking lot sign nearby before leaving your car – or better yet, write it down.

"Hey, didn't we come in over there?"

Common sense tells us that a parking lot is neither a speedway nor a sidewalk. It's a  shared area where motorists and pedestrians just need to slow down, be alert and stay off of cell phones. But do we?

It's has been said that the best defense is a strong offense. Who ever thought that would apply to parking lots?

If you think your office could benefit from a lunch and learn session on distracted driving, let us know. We're happy to come in and tailor our message to your group. Share your stories of parking lot peril below!