Distracted Driving: Texts and More

What distracts you while driving?  Whether you are talking on your cell phone (cognitive-taking your mind off the road), texting or reaching in the back seat for your purse (visual-taking your eyes off the road) or eating a hamburger (manual-taking your hands off the wheel) they are distracted driving behaviors.  PUT IT DOWN!

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It Only Takes a Second: Idaho story of two teenage boys.
Distracted driving tragedy – An anatomy of a vehicular manslaughter.

As explained by Magistrate Judge Thomas Borreson of Jerome County Idaho. "The idea for this video arose when I was preparing for a sentencing of a young man who had killed his best friend because he wasn't paying full attention to his driving. I was hoping somehow to get a message out to teenage drivers about the danger inherent in distracted driving especially with the alarming increase in talking on cell phones, texting, and other activities that divert a driver’s full attention on the wheel. Initially we were just going to do an assembly at the young man’s high school but a video was then suggested which would allow a much larger audience. There is essentially no scrip to this video and all the people interviewed are the actual people that were involved with or impacted by this tragic crash. Although the video was initially targeted to young drivers it is equally applicable to drivers of all ages."

GET INVOLVED: TEENS

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for American teens. When it comes to distracted driving, young people are among the most likely to text and talk behind the wheel.

• Take the Pledge
  Commit to being a safe, distraction-free driver. Print out the pledge form, fill it in, and keep it in your car or locker as a reminder to stay off the phone when you're driving.

• Be Seen
  Share a "Faces of Distracted Driving" video on Facebook or Twitter to let your friends know about the consequences of cell phone use behind the wheel. Change your social networking profile picture to remind your friends that "One Text or Call Could Wreck It All."

• Speak Up
  Don't stop at being a great driver - be a great passenger! Make sure to call out your friends, and even your parents, if you see them using a cell phone behind the wheel.

• Spread the Word
  Get involved in promoting safe driving in your community. Hang up posters, host an event on distracted driving, or start a SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) chapter at your school.

Want more information? Visit Distraction.gov.