Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you’ve likely seen some type of anti-texting-while-driving campaign, even where it has not yet been outlawed. While it’s obvious that taking your eyes off the road while driving can lead to collisions, it’s also human nature to multitask — tune the radio, drink coffee or read that “urgent” text message. After all, you’re just taking your eyes off the road for a split second, right? However, that split second can turn into two, three, five seconds, and suddenly you’ve driven several blocks with your eyes elsewhere and bam!
Distracted Taxiing a Factor in Ground Incidents and Runway Incursions
Key Takeaways:
- Distraction during aircraft taxiing poses significant safety risks, comparable to distracted driving, and is a reported factor in numerous runway incidents and errors.
- Studies indicate that a substantial percentage of pilot-reported incidents during departure taxiing involve distraction in the cockpit.
- Pilots, particularly experienced ones, frequently multitask during taxi operations (e.g., setting up systems, completing checklists), increasing the risk of collisions, missed instructions, or runway incursions.
- To ensure safety, pilots should dedicate their full attention solely to taxiing, completing all pre-flight setup and run-up procedures only when the aircraft is safely stopped.
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