Texting and Driving Dangers

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Admit it, we've likely all either succumbed to the temptation or watched someone else do it: check an e-mail or text message or talk on the phone while driving. We've convinced ourselves we're master multi-taskers and can handle any number of distractions from a screaming kid to changing the address in a GPS device to thumb-typing "honeee ill b home l8 2nite."

In the spirit of full disclosure, I'll raise my hand as a guilty party, too. But ever since I did a story last year on the serious accidents and even deaths associated with the hazards of talking or texting while driving I've really managed to curb my bad habits. Still, on a larger scale, the problem isn't getting much better. In fact, it might be getting worse.

See Daniel Sieberg's Distracted Driving Story Here

This week, people from government, car makers, insurance companies, safety groups and more will meet in Washington, DC, at the Distracted Driver Summit. The purpose-- the find ways to educate people about the dangers, better enforce existing laws or create new ones (maybe on a nationwide level that could include banning all handheld use), and discuss technologies that could prevent people from using their devices while driving.

Today, we tagged along with about 40 teenagers as they took part in a safe driving course that put them in the driver's seat while being bombarded by distractions. For 17-year-old Joseph James, it was an eye-opening experience. Before getting in the car he was pretty confident about his performance. But after mowing down more than a few cones he came away humbled.

I hope you'll watch our story tonight on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric and maybe generate some discussion with your fellow loved ones (aka drivers). Of course, we can all agree there's a lot to be said for simple common sense in this case, but aren't we all a little guilty of forgetting that sometimes?

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