Distracted Drivers

The US Department of Transportation recently presented a proposal to ban text messaging while driving by cross-state truck and bus drivers. This regulatory action follows up on its public service program to reduce distracted drivers that cause accidents. The proposal would make permanent an interim ban announced at the beginning of the calendar year by the Transportation Secretary. The proposed ban applies to bus drivers and truck drivers operating vehicles with a gross vehicle weight over five tons. To give an idea of the serious nature of the problem, the drivers could be facing civil penalties and/or even criminal penalties. The US Transportation Department reported almost 6,000 people died and over a half million were injured in 2008 in crashes involving driver distraction. The department has not determined how many of those accidents were linked to mobile phone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration mirror the Transportation Department estimates with projection that about eighty percent of crashes are caused by driver distraction. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is funding research to determine the extent of the distracted driver problem. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reports that driver inattention is a leading factor in many accidents, and cell phone use and sending text messages are some of the most common driver distractions. States aren’t waiting for research reports and are passing new laws dealing with mobile phone calls and texting . The Governors Highway Safety Association reports that twenty states and Washington DC outlaw all drivers from sending text messages when driving. An additional nine states prohibiting texting by beginning drivers. The remaining states are expected to implement the ban before too long. But it is also widely recognized that the laws are not enough to stop the problem and technical solutions are required. The GHSA says it supports texting bans for all drivers, but does have concerns about enforcement. The trucking and passenger bus trade associations support the texting ban, and many companies have enforced policies prohibiting sending text messages while behind the wheel. The government, industry and safety organizations all agree that driver distraction caused bytexting is extremely dangerous, and is worthy of action. Advocates for addressing the problem also include media powerhouse Oprah. Undoubtedly there are many distractions interfering with a driver focusing on driving: changing the radio or a inserting tape or CD, talking to passengers, observing an event outside the vehicle, and of course, using cellphones and sending text messages. Navigational and other interactive devices also cause inattention.