It’s not just “Don’t Drink and Drive” anymore

Don’t drink and drive.  The effects of driving under the influence have been thoroughly studied.  Most of us agree that drinking and driving is a fatal combination.

But did you know that distracted driving can be just as deadly?  5,870 people lost their lives in 2008 due to being distracted, or due to another driver being too distracted to react in time.  In many cases, the at-fault distracted driver didn’t even notice the person they ended up killing!

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a study researching distracted driving just this past September.  And guess what?  “Driver distraction was reported to have been involved in 16 percent of all fatal crashes…” 

The biggest culprits when it comes to distracted driving are, of course, talking on your cell phone and texting.  But activities such as eating, drinking, reading, talking, putting on makeup, or daydreaming while driving are just as disruptive to your concentration.  A conversation on a hands-free device is a distraction. Even strong emotions like anger or excitement can shift your focus off the road.

Yet, distracted driving, somehow, seems to be acceptable in today’s society.  It seems to be a sign of multitasking, of efficiency, of capability.  It is not.  Distracted driving is causing rising death-tolls.  It is irresponsible towards yourself and others.

To raise awareness of this hot topic, the Department of Transportation hosted a 2-day ‘Distracted Driving Summit’ in Washington D.C. last week.  Senators, scientists and victims spoke up to share facts and stories.  Read about it in the New York Times.

If you don’t believe just how distracting texting while driving can be, play this game by the New York Times.

Please Don’t Text and Drive.