If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you have undoubtedly reviewed various discussions on what makes radar speed displays so effective. It usually comes down to their unique ability to grab driver attention and redirect their thoughts to their current rate of speed. So the link between speed displays and counteracting driver distraction is clear.
Reducing driver distraction is also a top priority at the U.S. Department of Transportation which last week announced that it was kicking off a new federal grant program to fight distracted driving. Their main target is new teenage drivers who text and drive.
The grant provides about $17.5 million in 2013 to states that are aggressively fighting distracted driving. To qualify, the state must have laws in place that allow police to pull over and cite any driver they think is driving distracted, including texting while driving. States will have 45 days to apply for the grant once it is published in the Federal Register.
Along with the enforcement grant, the USDT is also providing an additional $5 million for NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) to create an advertising campaign aimed directly at supporting state enforcement of laws directed at curbing distracted driving habits. The announcement of this grant coincides with the kickoff of a Public Service Announcement campaign with the same goal in mind. The PSAs feature cast members of the television show GLEE who warn viewers about the dangers associated with texting and other cell phone usage while driving.
According to NHTSA, well over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving-related crashes in 2010. An additional 416,000 were injured in these types of accidents.
Other facts to consider:
- On average, your eyes are off the road approximately 5 seconds while texting. If you’re traveling at 55 mph, that enough time to cover the length of a football field.
- A texting driver is 23 times more likely to get into an accident than a non-texting driver.
- About 18% of distracted driving-related accidents involve the use of a cell phone.
- Even hands-free cell phone usage can impair driving with the affect being similar to having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent.
- 60% of drivers report using cell phones while driving. About half of drivers under the age of 35 who own cell phones send or read text messages while driving.
