Distracted Driving Summit agenda promises results

In August, I announced we would convene a summit of safety experts to help us figure out a way to reduce distracted driving. This summit will give safety leaders from across the nation a forum to identify, target, and tackle the fundamental elements of this problem.

We've all observed the rise of this dangerous practice, so let's be clear:

We must act now to stop distracted driving from becoming a deadly epidemic on our nation's roadways.

The summit will bring together respected leaders for interactive sessions on data, research, technology, policy, and outreach. I'm excited by the number of professionals who have agreed to share their expertise with us, and I look forward to the day we can end this dangerous habit.

In the meantime, DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration has put together a web page that has the agenda's details, and I encourage everyone to check it out.

And, so anyone who's interested can attend the summit virtually, we're webcasting the sessions and allowing people to submit questions online to each panel. I think this is a great development, one that allows experts and the general public to come together on a very serious matter.

Folks, we need drivers' eyes and minds on the road. I hope this summit is a practical first step toward that goal.

Comments

[Michael E. Bailey]

This is something that has been a national as well as state problem. I am glad that you are going to give it national attention. I think distracted driving has been around since cell phones first became real popular and in-expensive to buy. California has had a cell phone law it has enforced for drivers since at least the first of this year. While it is not a real tough law, from what I can see it is having the desired impact on many California drivers. It used to be everyone practically that drove had a cell phone and they were holding it talking at the same time they were trying to drive the car. The new law makes it illegal to drive and use a hand held cell phone at the same time, A driver can get a ticket and pay a small fine of $20.00 or so. But tickets can have an upward impact on car insurance premiums which is an added incentive not to drive and use the cell phone at the same time. Under this law you can still talk and drive, but you have to use a hands free phone so you can keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Now it is rare to see someone drive and use a cell phone at the same time but it still happens sometimes. Maybe the California law could be a model for other states. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Answering Service]

This is more true now that the "texting" generation is starting to drive. I don't know what the answer is but we must find some effective way to keep all or our eyes on the road.

[twitter.com/TSAS247]

Following this with great interest.looking forward to the recomendations.

[Jo Ann]

I read the news articles, this website and agenda concerning the cell phone regulation summit coming up next week and had a few questions / comments. The news articles are specifically targeting bus and truck driver cell phone use, but this website and the agenda are not that specific. My question is - What use are these proposed regulations going to target? These regulations seem to always start in the transportation industry and then bleed over into main stream America. I am a truck drivers wife and am completely in favor of regulations, but I believe (as do many that I know) that the regulations need to be across the board, not just the transportation industry. Nor should the transportation industry be the test pilot for the regulations. Statistically their are more accidents in passengers cars due to cell phone and texting than in buses and trucks; however, when a truck or bus is in an accident it makes the news due to the sensationalism of the event not the acutal event. If each passenger car accident due to cell phone / texting, falling asleep at the wheel, agressive driving, etc., was reported daily there would be an uproar from communities. I believe across the board regulation, not industry specific regulation is necessary. Thank you!