Trucking Group Urges Motorists to Remain Attentive while Driving

As part of National Distracted Driving Month, American Trucking Associations (ATA) is urging motorists to put their cell phones away and focus on safe driving while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.

“Each year, thousands of people are killed in crashes related to distractions,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “We urge motorists to put down their phones and keep their eyes and minds on the road.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,100 people were killed and another 424,000 were injured in distraction-related crashes in 2013, while an improvement over the previous year, ATA still believes more needs to be done.

The facts are startling:

• Writing or reading a text message takes your eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. At 55 MPH, that’s like driving the length of a football field – blindfolded.
• If you text while you’re behind the wheel, you’re 20 times more likely to be involved in a crash than a non-distracted driver.
• Talking on a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity devoted to driving by 37%.
• 45 states and the District of Columbia ban text messaging for all drivers.
• 14 states and the District of Columbia prohibit hand-held cell phone use by all drivers.
• Young people are especially at risk: In 2011, 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.

Category: Featured, General Update, Safety