Distracted Driving: "A Deadly Epidemic"
At Least 1.6 Million Crashes Are Caused Each Year by Distracted Drivers

According to the Department of Transportation, officially nearly 500,000 people are injured and 6,000 are killed each year because drivers are talking, texting and e-mailing behind the wheel. But a recent report by the The National Safety Council estimates that at least 28% of all traffic crashes – or at least 1.6 million crashes each year - are caused by these driving distractions.  And, with more than 200 pieces of legislation filed over the past few years, lawmakers in Washington and across the country understand the importance of addressing this deadly epidemic.

TCAIS members companies are working to make our roads safer by educating Texas drivers about the dangers of distracted driving - including the use of cell phones and texting - as well as other everyday distractions such as adjusting the radio or changing a CD.  In fact, a recent University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center study of the top 10 driver distractions, calls into question "whether anyone should be doing anything in their car except for putting both hands on the wheel, looking straight ahead and driving as carefully as a driver education student."

Distracted Driving: Did You Know...

• 71 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 49 admit they text or talk on the phone while they drive.
• Studies show motorists face a four times greater crash risk if they are talking on the phone.
• 80 percent of all crashes and 65 percent of near crashes involve some type of distraction. (Source: Virginia Tech 100-car study for NHTSA)

• Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)
• Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. (Source: Carnegie Mellon)

Distracted Driving Public Campaigns
From the Government to Oprah, the message is simple - Put it down!

In addition to TCAIS member company initiatives, a number of public campaigns have been launched recently to educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. These education efforts are critical as "education and training to increase awareness of the seriousness of inattentive driving and the risks it poses" are the remedies most frequently suggested by driving safety experts.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) launched a campaign to highlight the dangers of distracted driving. The campaign's message is simple – Put it down! - and includes public service announcements and a website. As part of the campaign the DOT has been reaching out to private and public entities and advocacy groups to educate about the dangers of distracted driving. Learn more.

When Oprah Winfrey talks...millions of Americans listen. The talk show host recently launched a campaign to remind viewers "how absolutely stupid it is that we continue to text and drive." As part of the campaign, she has asked viewers to sign "Oprah's No Phone Zone Pledge" which states: I pledge to make my car a No Phone Zone. Beginning right now,  I will do my part to help put an end to distracted driving by not texting or using my phone while I am driving.  I will ask other drivers I know to do the same.  I pledge to make a difference. So far more than 56,700 have signed on. In addition to the pledge, Oprah dedicated a show on the dangers of phone use and driving and has a number of online resources. Learn more.

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