Lexus Uses Unusual Tactic to Deliver Distracted Driving Message

Automaker Lexus recently adapted an SUV into what it dubbed the NX 4.6 and coaxed drivers to take an unusual test drive all in an effort to make an important safety point, reports Car and Driver. 

Unbeknownst to drivers, the manufacturer had modified the windshield so that it would suddenly be obstructed for 4.6 seconds — making it impossible for the unsuspecting motorists to see the test track ahead. 

During April, which is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the goal of the fake test drive was to make a point about distracted driving. 

Too many people engage in countless distracted driving behaviors — from eating behind the wheel to talking on the phone. And far too many lives are lost to this risky driving behavior. 

While most people think their eyes are only off the road for a second or two at a time, people are checking their phones or fiddling with their infotainment system for an average of 4.6 seconds, according to a report from Jalopnik. At 55 mph, that’s the same as driving an entire football field with your eyes closed. 

The inspired experiment left cones mangled and Styrofoam pedestrians flat on their backs, note reports, leaving harsh evidence of what could happen in a real driving situation. Lexus’ fake test drives were then turned into a PSA video helping to spread the message about the dangers of distracted driving. 

Some 3,142 people were killed due to distracted driving in 2019 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Moreover, the latest data from the National Safety Council notes that on a typical day more than 700 people are injured in distracted driving crashes.