Distracted Driving = One in Six Highway Deaths

So-called distracted  driving crashes show over 5,400 lives lost and almost 500,000 injuries across the country in 2009.  Overall, the number of traffic deaths was down in 2009, but it seems as though drivers are reaching for their cell phones or some sort of texting device at an alarming rate.

Simply reminding people that texting while driving doesn’t seem to be enough to change their behavior.  Maybe its time to get tougher laws similar to the DUI laws.  However, those laws are difficult to enforce.

Surveys have shown that most people believe they are better drivers than the person next to them.  They believe they can talk on the phone or send a text message and it does not affect their driving.  WRONG.  With any kind of unsafe driving…not wearing your seat belt, drinking and driving, speeding, texting, etc… you may get away with it most of the time.  You don’t think you’ll be in an accident, but the trend is going to get you soon enough.  We also know the statistics related to alcohol and driving.  No one seems to want to do what it takes to stop it either.  The “it will not happen to my syndrome” is growing.

Refresher defensive driving or traffic school courses or watching a safety driving video once every couple years couldn’t hurt to remind you.  However, no course, no video will help you unless you take it seriously.

Whats it going to take?