A National Institute of Health study showed that cigarette smokers averaged 12.0 seconds of distraction (equal to traveling 525 feet without looking at the road), while cell phone users averaged 10.6 seconds of distraction (traveling 492 feet).

There was a time in my life when I’d go through unfiltered Camel’s like they were going out of style. Of course, this was back when my doctor was smoking them with me. Yep, hard to believe, but there was a time long ago when smoking wasn’t considered dangerous. Now we know better, and even though the overall number of cigarette smokers is down, e-cigarettes and vapes are gaining popularity.

Smoking of any kind is a dangerous distraction behind the wheel. Just like a cell phone, it encompasses all three types of distractions: manual, visual, and cognitive. So if you can’t quite kick the habit, at least refrain from lighting up while you’re driving.