DISTRACTED DRIVING/TEXTING & DRIVING

MICK MULHERNGOVERNOR’S TRAFFIC SAFETY BUREAUIOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

SIMPLE QUESTION…….SIMPLE ANSWER

DEADLY CONSEQUENCES…………

WHAT IS DISTRACTED DRIVING?

TAKING YOUR…….

&

OFF THE ROAD AND AWAY FROM SURROUNDINGS….

DISTRACTED DRIVING

• READING• EATING• APPLYING MAKE-UP• DRINKING• FIDGETING WITH RADIO/CD PLAYER• TUNING I-POD, XM, RADIO, ETC.• LOOKING FOR DROPPED ITEM(S)• SINGING• TALKING WITH OCCUPANTS• TIRED• MENTALLY AWAY• AND MORE………………

• TEXTING/CELL PHONE USE

DISTRACTED DRIVING

HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR SAFE DRIVING.

HAS BECOME MUCH MORE MAGNIFIED OVER THE PAST 9-10 YEARS.

RECENTLY IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO CRASHES RESULTING IN FATALITIES OR SERIOUS INJURIES.

TRAFFIC CRASHES ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR TEENS IN IOWA AND U.S.

IOWA DISTRACTED DRIVING FACT SHEETJune 2010

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that over 5,000 fatalcrashes each year in the United States, or 1 fatal crash in 6, involves some form ofdistracted driving.

Iowa data shows that since 2001, a total of 5,129 motor vehicle crashes involvedthe use of cellular telephones by one or more operators.

Those Iowa crashes included 117 crashes involving serious injuries to one or morepersons.

Tragically, 16 persons have been killed in Iowa crashes where cellular telephoneuse was involved.

Dr. David Strayer, a noted researcher on the use of electronic devices whiledriving, characterizes driver performance while talking on a cell phone to becompromised to a degree equivalent to driving while intoxicated.

Dr. Strayer’s research also shows no appreciable improvement in the drivingbehavior of operators using hands-free cellular telephones.

Dan McGehee, behavioral safety researcher at the University of Iowa, notes thatthe use of electronic communication devices is not just a young driver issue. Theact of reading and composing e-mail messages while driving includes many peoplewho are middle aged or older.

IOWA DISTRACTED DRIVING FACT SHEETJune 2010

Texting while driving has become a particular safety concern. Thus far, 23 stateshave enacted some type of restriction on texting while driving.

Iowa enacted legislation restricting the use of electronic devices. The followingProvisions went into effect July 1, 2010 with only warnings being issued the first year.

For any person holding a learner’s permit, provisional license or school permit, the use of electronic communication or electronic entertainment devices while driving is prohibited.

For all other licensed drivers, the use of hand-held electronic devices to write, send or read a text message is prohibited.

Regular license holders can key in a phone number and make cell phone calls or use a GPS unit.

All drivers can use electronic communications devices if they are at a complete stop and off the traveled portion of the roadway.

TEXTING/CELL PHONES

-POSSESSION AND USE IS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY

-AGE OF USE & POSSESSION IS GETTING YOUNGER(and getting older too)

-IT HAS BECOME THE NORM FOR INTERACTION, COMMUNICATION, STUDY, PURCHASE, RELATIONSHIPS, ETC.

COUNTER MEASURESTO

DISTRACTED DRIVING(EDUCATION)

A SIGNIFICANT KEY TO OVERCOMING THE DISTRACTED DRIVING-CELL PHONE/TEXTING ISSUES IS THROUGH EDUCATION…..

-Advertising/Marketing Campaigns (national & local)-Parental education-Influencer awareness and alliance building-Continued presence in the schools, workplaces, and other high volume areas.-Start educating at the junior high/middle school level-Adult Behavior-Set the example and accept nothing

less!

COUNTER MEASURESTO

DISTRACTED DRIVING(ENFORCEMENT)

-First year is “warning” only for texting/electronic device use

-Random surveys to monitor change

-Enforcement and rules of enforcement will evolve over the years dependant on continued increase/decrease of problem

-Continued topic with legislature and politicos

-Graduated Driver License (GDL)

ALLIANCES, GROUPS, AGENCIES, ETC.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA)

National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS)

Iowa DPS and DOT

X the Text Street Skills

Act Out Loud SADD, MADD

Oprah Winfrey Ford

Allstate** Sweet Ride

many, many more!

OTHER PROGRAM AREAS

OCCUPANT PROTECTION (SAFETY BELTS)

CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY

ALCOHOL IMPAIRED DRIVING

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY

YOUTH PROGRAMS

PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE SAFETY

GTSB ACTIVITIES

-SATURATION PATROLS

-CHECK POINTS

-MULTI-AGENCY EVENTS (special Traffic Enforcement Program- sTEP)

-LOCALIZED AND STATEWIDE CORRIDOR EVENTS

-DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS (DRE)

-CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY SEAT TECHNICIANS

CAMPAIGNS