Campaign to end distracted driving gains mainstream currency with Pulitzer

This morning, I heartily congratulate New York Times journalist Matt Richter whose "Driven to Distraction" articles won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for "national reporting." Matt, I can't thank you enough for the important service you've provided with this great series.

The Pulitzer jury honored Matt and New York Times staff members for: "for incisive work, in print and online, on the hazardous use of cell phones, computers and other devices while operating cars and trucks, stimulating widespread efforts to curb distracted driving."

And I couldn't agree more.

Matt's series, which began on July 18, 2009, with an article about how "Drivers and Legislators Dismiss Risk Cellphone Risks," has really helped raise awareness of this deadly epidemic. His subsequent reporting on two studies showing that "Texting Lifts Crash Risk by Large Margin," introduced the nation's readers to key data from a DOT-financed study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and from the University of Utah.

Finally, thanks to Matt, the public saw evidence that distracted driving raised crash risk to dangerous levels.

From there, discussion about the harm caused by distracted driving entered the national conversation. And the results have been terrific. Advocacy groups have worked night and day against this deadly practice. State after state has banned texting behind the wheel. And Americans are changing their attitudes about this behavior.

What was once automatic is now becoming unacceptable.

The entertainment industry has joined in as well. Recent episodes of NBC's "The Office" and ABC's "Modern Family" have acknowledged this new attitude.

And last week on Oprah, the young cast of Fox's "Glee" publicly signed Oprah Winfrey's no-phone-zone pledge.

We can't rest there. That distracted driving has worked its way into the mainstream is a great development. And I thank Matt Richtel and the New York Times for their role in getting this conversation started, and the Pulitzer jury for elevating it even further with yesterday's award.

But we know that people are still being killed and injured by drivers whose hands are not on the wheel, whose eyes are not on the road, and whose minds are far from focused on the task at hand.

This DOT is working hard to change that. We can't do it without you.

Comments

[Diane Johnson]

Congratulations & THANK YOU, Matt Richter & New York Times staff!
This safety issue needs all the publicity!!
To help further: Get 720 Free "Turn Off Cell B/4 Driving!" safety reminder stickers after buying 1 pkg. of Avery 5260 labels
http://myplace.frontier.com/~DriveSafely/
B/sure 2 save 1 sheet 4 30 directions 2 site so others can print their OWN!
Keep up the great work for public safety!!! Those drivers using cell phones are SLOW to get the message!!!! :(

[Thomas]

Congratulations! It must be great to see the hard work pay off, especially for such a great cause. The cause is one that I also believe in. We founded Teens Against Distracted Driving ( http://www.teensagainstdistracteddriving.com ) in order to help do our part. Thanks for all your hard work and hopefully we can all help put an end to the dangerous habit !!

[Michael E. Bailey]

The Pulitzer Jury has done a huge public service with this award as has the New York Times in bringing the issue to the front burner. We can hope that before too much longer drivers will get the message that you can't talk or text on the phone and drive at the same time. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[chris phelan]

The Ride Of Silence will take place on May 19, 7 pm.

What started as a one-time only event in Dallas, TX, has become a world wide grass roots phenomena.Without sponorship, it is the first and only event to take place on the same day, at the same time, world wide.

This free ride will memorialize cyclists who have been killed by motorists, many distracted. The Ride Of Silence supports this article and Oprah's No Phone Zone.

Chris Phelan, Founder
The Ride Of Silence
www.rideofsilence.org
Wednesday, May 19, 2010, 7 PM
One day. One time. World Wide.
Let the silence roar.

[heaba]

This free ride will memorialize cyclists who have been killed by motorists, many distracted. The Ride Of Silence supports this article and Oprah's No Phone Zone.

[Best Currency Rate]

We can hope that before too much longer drivers will get the message that you can't talk or text on the phone and drive at the same time.