Texting while driving: Are you a distracted driver? (videos)

The United States is cracking down on distracted drivers, and has just announced new regulations regarding texting and cell phone use for truck and bus drivers. The new federal ban includes fines of up to $2,750 for commercial vehicle offenders. It isn’t just drivers of big rigs or large passenger, commercial vehicles, however, that are impacted by texting while driving; all motorists are. The Department of Transportation has recently unveiled the new website ‘Distraction.gov’ to bring awareness to the dangers of distracted driving.

According to the DOT, there are three types of distracted driving. These are visual, manual, and cognitive. Safe drivers need to be aware of their surroundings, keep their hands on the wheel, and keep their eyes on the road. Anything that interrupts these three types of awareness is a distraction and puts the driver, passengers, and other motorists at risk. Texting has been singled out as the most dangerous distraction because it interrupts all three types of distractions.

Other types of distractions including watching television or video in the vehicle, using GPS or other navigational systems, map reading, brushing hair or other grooming techniques, talking to passengers in the vehicle, eating and drinking, and speaking on cell phones.

Each state has its rules regarding cell phone use including texting and driving. You may view information regarding your state’s laws here: http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

Answering the need for awareness, Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the National Safety Council President Janet Froetscher announced the creation of FocusDriven. FocusDriven is a movement that advocates a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones while driving. Many of the members have lost loved ones due to cell phone or texting related motor vehicle accidents.
In 2008, there were 5,870 fatalities and 515,000 injuries attributed to distracted driving.

FocusDriven is an important organization that puts faces and names to the tragedies caused by cell phone use while driving. The members of FocusDriven have powerful stories to tell about their loved ones. We hope their stories will help people realize the dangers of using cell phones while driving.  National Safety Council President Janet Froetscher.

Secretary Roy LaHood had this to say about FocusDriven:

Just as groups like MADD changed attitudes about drunk driving; I believe FocusDriven can help raise awareness and change the way people think about distracted driving. Together, I hope we can put an end to this dangerous practice.

FocusDriven
Source: Distraction.gov

In this photo taken Dec. 15, 2009, Tina Derby sends text messages while driving in Concord, N.H. Tina Derby loves the ease and speed of text messages, even while driving, and sees no need to pull over to tap her fingers on her phone. As of Jan. 1, New Hampshire, Oregon and Illinois will join more than a dozen other states, the District of Columbia and Guam in having bans on sending text messages while driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Come Jan. 1, her texting while behind the wheel could cost her a $100 fine if she gets caught in New Hampshire. A reader-submitted question about texting bans in the U.S. have armed forces in Afghanistan is being answered as part of an Associated Press Q&A column called "Ask AP." (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File)

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, left, accompanied by Anne Ferro, administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, center, and Bill Graves, president and chief executive officer, American Trucking Association, announces in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010, a federal ban on texting for commercial truck drivers. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

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