Distracted Driving – Continued

We all know that driving while talking on the phone is a risk, and that driving while texting is even riskier. The influence of technology has taken hold of many people when they get behind the wheel. In our previous blog about distracted driving we provided you with some alarming data from surveys conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. After having explained the problem in our last article we are now going to present you with several different solutions.

A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study revealed that physically dialing a phone while driving increases the risk of a crash as much as six times. Texting is riskier still, increasing the collision risk by 23 times. One recommendation to reduce the impact of distracted driving is that if you know someone is behind the wheel do not attempt to contact them unless it is an emergency (i.e. someone is bleeding, house is on fire, etc.). For those times when a phone call is necessary, several vehicle manufacturers have introduced features that allow for hands-free usage of phones as well as navigation systems.

An increase in the usage of phones can be seen when a driver is at a red light, stopped in traffic, driving alone, and while on a long drive. Another recommendation is that parents monitor their child’s daily phone usage to make sure they are not using it at an inappropriate time. Similarly, phone blocker applications have been developed in order for parents to restrict the cell-phone use of their kids and to record their driving behaviors. A few of these applications also have the ability to monitor the location of the cell-phone at all times.

What do you think about our recommendations? What ways do you suggest to reduce the amount of distracted driving? Let us know in our comments section.

Distracted Driving

We have all been there, driving down the road watching someone talk on their cell phone. Maybe they are sending a text message, applying makeup, multi-tasking, or even reading paperwork. Doesn’t sound very safe does it? Perhaps you were the one talking on the phone. Do not feel too bad as you are not alone. Recent surveys conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center have shown that 94% of individuals surveyed had witnessed other drivers talking on their phone within the last 30 days. Nearly 66% of that same group had seen someone texting while driving.

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has called distracted driving a deadly epidemic. In 2009 over 5,500 people were killed and 448,000 injured in accidents related to driver distraction. Several individuals have come forward lately in an effort to tell their stories about how dangerous this growing trend actually is. These are some of the most horrific stories ever told, and each one happened in an instant. Statistically speaking, the majority of people reading this article have been affected in one way or another by someone who was not focused behind the wheel.

Of the 5,500 people killed in 2009 by accidents related to driver distraction, over 3,400 of them were teenagers. This epidemic is spreading among teenagers like wildfire, and not enough people are doing anything about it. Nearly 2 out of every 3 drivers under the age of 30 have used a handheld phone while driving in the last 30 day; similarly 1 out of every 3 drivers under the age of 30 have texted while behind the wheel.

The discussion of distracted driving will be continued in our next blog where we will provide you with ways to help fight the problem. What are some of your thoughts on focusing behind the wheel? Let us know what you think in our comments section.

Teen Driving - What You Need to Know

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed the Federal Uniform Drinking Age Act, a law that threatened to withhold federal highway funds from states that failed to increase their minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) to 21. Nearly thirty years later the U.S. Congress will attempt to use the same tactic in order to force states to accept a national minimum requirement for Graduated Drivers’ License (GDL) laws. The STANDUP Act (Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act) is being reintroduced in Congress after being stalled last year.

Missouri is one of several states with GDL laws in place, and has been rated as “Good” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). A few key points of the current Missouri GDL law:

• Three Levels: Instruction Permit, Intermediate License, Under 21 Full License
• Must be 15 years of age to receive Instruction Permit and complete 40 hours of supervised driving to advance
  
• Intermediate License can be acquired at 16 years of age and completed the Instruction Permit stage
  
• First 6 months, only 1 passenger under the age of 20
  
• Second 6 months, up to 3 passengers under the age of 20
  
• Under 21 Full License is available at age 18 upon completion of the Intermediate License

Under the new STANDUP Act you will notice a few changes:

• Age 16 will be the earliest for an Instruction Permit
  
• Only 1 non-family member passenger under the age of 21 during the Intermediate License stage
  
• No driving while using a cell phone

This law is being proposed in order to save teenage lives. In 2009, over 3,400 teens were killed in motor vehicle accidents.

What do you think? Is the GDL a good idea for teenagers? Give us your thoughts on our comments section.