Final answer:
At 55mph, drivers who are dialing or otherwise distracted can travel approximately 400 feet, or more than the length of a football field, without looking at the road, posing serious safety risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Driver distraction is a significant safety concern on the roads, and drivers who engage in activities such as dialing while driving pose a risk to themselves and others. At a speed of 55 miles per hour (mph), a vehicle travels approximately 80 feet every second. Therefore, if a driver takes their eyes off the road for even a brief period, such as 5 seconds, to dial a phone, they would have traveled approximately 400 feet without looking at the road. This distance is greater than the length of a football field and represents a substantial period during which the driver is unable to react to changes in traffic conditions or obstacles on the road.