Distracted Drivers Kill 6,000 Last Year

U.S. Transportation Department Looking to Enact New Restrictions On Using Cell Phones While Driving

(CBS/AP)  Nearly 6,000 people were killed and a half-million injured last year in U.S. auto accidents due to drivers being distracted, particularly by mobile phones, the government said Wednesday.

The Transportation Department brought together experts for a two-day "distracted driving summit" on highway hazards caused by drivers talking on cell phones or texting from behind the wheel. Secretary Ray LaHood was expected Thursday to offer recommendations that could lead to new restrictions on using the devices while driving.

LaHood said he wanted the meeting of government officials, safety advocates, researchers and lawmakers to set "the stage for finding ways to eliminate texting while driving."

"You see people texting and driving and using cell phones and driving everywhere you go, even in places where it's outlawed, like Washington, D.C. We feel a very strong obligation to point to incidents where people have been killed or where serious injury has occurred," LaHood said.

Hours before the start of the meeting, Transportation officials said in a report that 5,870 people were killed and 515,000 were injured last year in crashes where at least one form of driver distraction was reported. Driver distraction was involved in 16 percent of all fatal crashes in 2008.

Public sentiment for banning cell phone use while driving may already be in place. In a CBS News/New York Times poll released Sunday, 90 percent of Americans said that it should be illegal for drivers to send text messages.

Nearly all age groups in the poll supported a ban of texting while driving, the only dissenters being those between the ages of 18 to 29, in which only 16 percent agreed with an anti-texting law.

The meeting was to hear warnings from young adults who caused accidents because they were texting while driving. Most accidents caused by driving distraction involved drivers aged 20 and under. And of all accidents involving drivers of that age group, 16 percent were reported to have been distracted, the government said.

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have passed laws making texting while driving illegal, and seven states and the district have banned driving while talking on a handheld cell phone, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Many safety groups have urged a nationwide ban on texting and on using handheld mobile devices while behind the wheel.

In July, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater. Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of collision about six times in cars and trucks.

The Virginia Tech researchers found the risks of texting generally applied to all drivers, not just truckers. A separate report by Car and Driver magazine found that texting and driving is more dangerous than drunken driving.

[KrystalKid]

80% percent of all rear end collisions (the most frequent vehicle accident) are caused by driver inattention, following too closely, external distraction (talking on cell phones, shaving, applying makeup, fiddling with the radio or CD player, kids, texting, etc.) and poor judgement.

There's not much you can do about a rear end collision so I went out and got one of these sparebumper.com

[keypounder]

Yes, it's true, and if you stop and think about it, we are ALL sitting ducks --because all YOU have to do is happen to have stopped in traffic and if the person behind you is distracted, you're history (FOR JUST SITTING THERE!!)

But I'm afriaid the REAL problem is people who live their ENTIRE LIFE in a daze of oblviousness, totally unaware other people even exist --we all know them: the ones who don't respond whatsoever to your horn; who drive 2 miles an hour in front of you, unexpectedly braking and turning without warning, completely unaware there are other people behind them, or on the road for that matter; who ignore stop signs or right-turn red lights, drive with their phone to their ear while smoking (toss their butts/trash out the window!), use headphones IN BOTH EARS, etc. --I could go on.

THESE people are the REAL problem (even MORE so, the DMV examiners that passed them!!).

I was nearly the victim in the above scenario. The traffic had stopped on the freeway, but I could see in my rearview the person behind still coming at full speed with no intention of stopping. Since I was in traffic, I tried my hardest to squeeze into the adjacent lane --and just in time because her vehicle had come to rest RIGHT BESIDE MINE.

I looked over at her expecting to see her shaken up and remorseful, but what I saw shook ME up even more than I already was!

What I saw was her COMPLETELY UNFAZED by what *I* had just prevented, still fiddling about with her iPod (with both hands!) like nothing happened!!

So, give someone like THIS a distraction (or even a drink for that matter!!), and that's when disasters happen!

As I said, though, the REAL culprits here are the DMV examiners who actually pass these idiots.

[Cyclemut]

According to the NHTSA, people over age 65 that are driving are also killing people about the same rate, every year! Using the same logic, wouldn't seem necessary to make it illegal to drive after age 65 then?

These are their results: 5,569 Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes, not counting 803 Pedestrian Fatalities, all involving people age 65 and over. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811161.PDF (page 3 table 3)

"...We feel a very strong obligation to point to incidents where people have been killed or where serious injury has occurred," LaHood said.

Why no 'summit' for this?

[thistle42]

I support bans on cell use while driving (and I'm a techie). I see too many bad driving incidents caused by it.

The real solution: SELF-DRIVING CARS.

[hungry1968-16]

by cbsblogger September 30, 2009 10:09 AM EDT
Every US cell phone device is GPS enabled. The phones could easily be disabled when the vehicle is in motion. They could be set up to provide an alert signal for an incoming call but couldn't be answered until the vehicle is parked. At the very minimum any action that requires distracting complex key action such as texting, searching for contacts, or dialing should be disabled.






This is what I proposed the other day, and was soundly criticized as being "Big Brother". (Looney conservatives!!)

The ONLY exception that I would make to this, is that the 911 system should be available while the car is moving.

Think of a kidnap victim stuffed in the trunk of a car, think of a woman being stalked, think of an irate driver trying to run you off the road, etc, etc, etc.

[tiktin]

You are being had. They make these numbers up in the NHTSA public relations department on orders from congress which is being paid by the insurance companies.

[mordechaijones]

Why stop with cell phone usage? What about women putting on make up? Looking through their purse?
What about cars with music systems so loud that it would be impossible to hear another car's horn or worse the driver could not hear a siren of an emergency vehicle?
What about people smoking and eating and drinking sodas or coffee while driving? People looking at the scenery while driving?
Where does it stop?
The problem is government interfering in the daily lives of people (ever think of running a series addressing how in the world any one person can live their lives on a daily basis while complying with tens of thousands of laws/regulations/rules and dictates? It is impossible.) , the 2nd problem is the media which sensationalizes such trivial matters while ignoring the real problems of uncontrollable and unanswerable government that constantly looks for excuses to transfer citizens' money into government coffers.

[cbsblogger]

Quote from article: "Nearly all age groups in the poll supported a ban of texting while driving, the only dissenters being those between the ages of 18 to 29, in which only 16 percent agreed with an anti-texting law."

That response in itself should scare the hell out of most of us. Too many young people are obviously texting about stuff that is dangerous to innocent drivers.

[chonder2]

In the mid 80's my employer in NC sent me to a job with quite a few subcontractors already there.One guy from Tenn. in particular continued to whine about having to take out workmans comp, liability, and could not beleive NC had mandatory automobile insurance.I asked what happened in Tenn. when his wife and child got gravely injured when another driver runs a stop light with NO insurance and NO assets? "We just settle it among ourselves" was his answer.

[cbsblogger]

Every US cell phone device is GPS enabled. The phones could easily be disabled when the vehicle is in motion. They could be set up to provide an alert signal for an incoming call but couldn't be answered until the vehicle is parked. At the very minimum any action that requires distracting complex key action such as texting, searching for contacts, or dialing should be disabled.

[chonder2]

Or let the cell phone industry design the solution.Like they have so far.No,what will happen is that the "Industry" will finally be dragged kicking and screaming, nails scratching the floor to Congress.The Repub Meat Puppets will scream socialism,marxism,and parade out some elderly people to throw under the bus then come out with a fake plan that does nothing.They will then get their cash payments from the lobbyists...salute and recite "The Republican Pledge Of Allegiance"!

[bantamei]

This is what happens when you dumb down the population to the point where there is no commom sense.

[stuart-johns1]

Since an overwhelming number of Americans are too stupid to know that driving and cell phone usage do not mix well, the government needs to do it's job and protect other citizens from these idiots and just ban ALL usage of any devices such as these.

They will of course claim government is meddling. I will return the favor by claiming they are mindless.

Cell phone use, texting, ect are killing people. And we should accept this? Yeah, okay.

[Baasima67]

You can sell coffins, flowers, gas for the train of cars to the funeral hall, etc. Car accidents make stockholders richer.

[door331]

I dont think this will ever happen but IMHO every car should be a manual (i know I drive an automatic now). I think this would make drivers more aware of what they are doing as they drive because they need to focus on 3 pedals, shifting gears, etc etc which requires both hands (cant use a phone) and more attention to your car.

[rational_1]

I drive a stick and I doubt it would make much of a difference, especially once you get on the highway and have the car in top gear. I'd be in favour of putting jamming devices in cars to prevent cell phone use altogether, but that would also affect the abilities of passengers to use their phones. That wouldn't be the end of the world - if something that urgent does come up how hard is it to pull over and get out of your car to make a call?

[Baasima67]

We need cell phones in cars so that the healthcare industry can make a bundle. Car accidents make stockholders richer.

[stuart-johns1]

Not for 6000 people. They profited the insurance companies nothing.

[missme4]

I wonder how much the insurances companies are paying easily bought news sites (such as this) to continually blast us with their latest agenda. Plus the courts will have 1 more way to tax us with an excuse for our safety in mind.