GHSA reports growing state efforts to curb distracted driving

I was pleased to read that, today, the Governors' Highway Safety Association released its report, "Curbing Distracted Driving: 2010 Survey of State Safety Programs." What makes this such an important release is that it's the first such comprehensive look at what the states are doing to end this deadly epidemic.

According to GHSA.org, the report indicates:

"States are aggressively pursuing solutions to distracted driving including: stronger laws, increased data collection, new education programs, public/private partnerships and a growing reliance on new media to spread the message."

And that is good news.

It's good news not just because state highway agencies are making preventing distracted driving a priority. It's also good news because states are using all of the tools available to them in this safety effort.

As GHSA chair Vernon F. Betkey, Jr. said, "We know from our experiences with drunk driving and seat belt use that there is no magic bullet, and the same holds true with distracted driving.”

We do have a strong record to draw on, and it's great to see the states are borrowing valuable lessons from these successful efforts. From information to education and from legislation to enforcement, many states are working hard to get control of this dangerous behavior.

Now, the trend is very positive--the number of states involved in efforts to prevent or reduce distracted driving is increasing notably. But we are still waiting for some states to get in the game.

For example, only 27 states include distracted driving as a priority in their Strategic Highway Safety Plans. That's a good start, but it is only a start. We can do better.

States in gray include distracted driving as a priority in their SHSPs

Only 34 states and the District of Columbia are using public education campaigns to make drivers more aware of the dangers of texting or talking on a cell phone while driving. Only 17 states and DC ask any questions about distracted driving on their licensing exams. And only 15 states and DC are using social media techniques to educate drivers about distraction. Good starts, all of them, but we can do better.

Finally, we have 28 states plus DC and Guam with bans on texting while driving, and seven states plus DC and the US Virgin Islands where handheld cell phone use is banned for all drivers. Now, if you're following me on Facebook or Twitter, you know I get fired up whenever a new state adds itself to that list. And that list is growing at a steady clip. But we can do better.

I want to thank GHSA chair Vernon Betkey and report author Elizabeth Vermette for the great service these survey results provide.

The report shows that many states are already going down the road toward preventing distracted driving. And I look forward to reporting back as more and more states move down that road.

Comments

[Kay]

This report really shines light on where we need to go next!

[Michael E. Bailey]

It is great news that more states are starting to take steps against distracted driving. But more still could be done. Several states in the south and southwest that are in white on the map could be doing alot more. And if the wireless phone companies and cell phone manufacturers wanted to do something responsible, they would be working on cell phone IT that would keep the phone from working if the car was moving. They could also finance a major public outreach program on the dangers of distracted driving. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Karen J. Simon]

A few months ago I wrote a blog regarding the effects of emotions as an element of distracted driving - the article also touched on other types of distracted driving - from personal care to reading, calling and reaching for fallen objects (cell phone) which resulted in a rear end collision. I was both excited and surprised to see that my article (and photo) is on a leader page of Google when 'emotional driving' is typed in.

Distracted driving was one thing I stressed as a trainer for commercial drivers and as a safety supervisor in the training department.