We’ve all seen it and some of us have done it – eating, drinking and even texting (OMG!) while driving. It’s tempting to do. We live in a fast-paced, impatient world that necessitates multi-tasking and embraces wireless technologies (and drive-through windows).
But we’ve got to stop.
Distracted driving has become such an epidemic that the government has launched a campaign, and a Web site, to educate the public. The site posts some surprising stats, i.e. in 2008, 5,870 people in the U.S. were killed in crashes involving driver distractions such as texting, cell phone use, eating and drinking.
Unfortunately, the problem is not contained within compacts, SUVs and sports cars. Commercial drivers are also eating, drinking, phoning and texting while driving. And although driving while distracted can be deadly on many levels, the effects increase exponentially when bus, truck and railcar operators figure into the equation.
You may recall the Los Angeles train engineer whose texting caused the worst domestic train crash in 25 years. A total of 25 people, including the driver, were killed and 135 others were injured. The engineer sent a text message 22 seconds before the accident occurred. Earlier that day, he received 21 text messages and sent 24 messages in less than two and half hours – while he was running the train.
The DOT says it is not distracted. According to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the department is focusing efforts on rulemaking that will address distracted drivers. In November, LaHood said the DOT is working on a rule that would “consider banning text messaging and restricting the use of cell phones by truck and interstate bus operators.”
Meanwhile, 19 states and D.C. have banned texting while driving and six states and D.C. have banned the use of hand-held cell phones. But we need to see this enforced on a national level, especially in regards to the buses and trucks that traverse our highways, as well as the railcars that cross through our communities. And sooner is always better than later.
We’ll keep you posted on the DOT rules. Meanwhile, we urge everyone to drive safely. And if you happen to be reading this while driving, please pull over. THNX!
Driving While Distracted
We’ve all seen it and some of us have done it – eating, drinking and even texting (OMG!) while driving. It’s tempting to do. We live in a fast-paced, impatient world that necessitates multi-tasking and embraces wireless technologies (and drive-through windows).
But we’ve got to stop.
Distracted driving has become such an epidemic that the government has launched a campaign, and a Web site, to educate the public. The site posts some surprising stats, i.e. in 2008, 5,870 people in the U.S. were killed in crashes involving driver distractions such as texting, cell phone use, eating and drinking.
Unfortunately, the problem is not contained within compacts, SUVs and sports cars. Commercial drivers are also eating, drinking, phoning and texting while driving. And although driving while distracted can be deadly on many levels, the effects increase exponentially when bus, truck and railcar operators figure into the equation.
You may recall the Los Angeles train engineer whose texting caused the worst domestic train crash in 25 years. A total of 25 people, including the driver, were killed and 135 others were injured. The engineer sent a text message 22 seconds before the accident occurred. Earlier that day, he received 21 text messages and sent 24 messages in less than two and half hours – while he was running the train.
The DOT says it is not distracted. According to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the department is focusing efforts on rulemaking that will address distracted drivers. In November, LaHood said the DOT is working on a rule that would “consider banning text messaging and restricting the use of cell phones by truck and interstate bus operators.”
Meanwhile, 19 states and D.C. have banned texting while driving and six states and D.C. have banned the use of hand-held cell phones. But we need to see this enforced on a national level, especially in regards to the buses and trucks that traverse our highways, as well as the railcars that cross through our communities. And sooner is always better than later.
We’ll keep you posted on the DOT rules. Meanwhile, we urge everyone to drive safely. And if you happen to be reading this while driving, please pull over. THNX!