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DISTRACTED DRIVING/ TEXTING & DRIVING MICK MULHERN GOVERNOR’S TRAFFIC SAFETY BUREAU IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY WHAT IS DISTRACTED DRIVING? SIMPLE QUESTION……. SIMPLE ANSWER DEADLY CONSEQUENCES………… 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 SHEET June 2010 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that over 5,000 fatal crashes each year in the United States, or 1 fatal crash in 6, involves some form of distracted driving. Iowa data shows that since 2001, a total of 5,129 motor vehicle crashes involved the use of cellular telephones by one or more operators. Those Iowa crashes included 117 crashes involving serious injuries to one or more persons. Tragically, 16 persons have been killed in Iowa crashes where cellular telephone use was involved. Dr. David Strayer, a noted researcher on the use of electronic devices while driving, characterizes driver performance while talking on a cell phone to be compromised to a degree equivalent to driving while intoxicated. Dr. Strayer’s research also shows no appreciable improvement in the driving behavior of operators using hands-free cellular telephones. Dan McGehee, behavioral safety researcher at the University of Iowa, notes that the use of electronic communication devices is not just a young driver issue. The act of reading and composing e-mail messages while driving includes many people who are middle aged or older. IOWA DISTRACTED DRIVING FACT SHEET June 2010 Texting while driving has become a particular safety concern. Thus far, 23 states have enacted some type of restriction on texting while driving. Iowa enacted legislation restricting the use of electronic devices. The following Provisions 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 MEASURES TO 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 MEASURES TO 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