“Driving distracted” is a term we all hear about in the news, but what does it mean, how dangerous is it, and how can it be stopped?
The United States government wants every citizen to understand what distracted driving is, to be aware of the danger, and to stop driving while distracted. Accordingly, the U.S. Department of Transportation has a website, www.distraction.gov, that is dedicated to the statistics, perils, news stories and other pertinent information about driving distracted.
Distracted Driving
A driver is distracted if his vision is diverted from the road, his hands are taken off of the steering wheel, or his mind is taken off of driving safely. While cell phone use is, arguably, the most talked about form of distracted driving, it is not the only form. Playing with the radio, eating, drinking, reading maps, using a GPS, and even talking to passengers can be distracting if it affects your visual, manual or cognitive attention from driving safely.
The Statistics
Distracted driving killed almost 6,000 people in the United States during 2008 and injured more than half a million more, according to distraction.gov.
Oprah’s No Phone Zone Day
Tomorrow, April 30, 2010, Oprah Winfrey will be joining forces with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and transportation safety organizations for the first national No Phone Zone Day. Oprah’s April 30 show will be live and will be dedicated to ending distracted driving. Tune in to Oprah tomorrow for more information about distracted driving and about what you can do to save lives – including your own.
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