Washington – The Department of Transportation on June 7 released its strategy (.pdf file) for ending distracted driving.
The plan calls for:
- Rallying remaining states without distracted driving laws to issue and enforce new legislation
- Reducing distraction of vehicle electronics
- Developing new driving education materials that discuss distracted driving
- Encouraging collaborative relationships among advocacy groups
At any time during the day, 100,000 drivers are texting and 600,000 are using a handheld phone, contributing to 3,000 distracted driving-related fatalities per year, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data (.pdf file).
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“Personal responsibility for putting down that cell phone is a good first step – but we need everyone to do their part, whether it’s helping pass strong laws, educating our youngest and most vulnerable drivers, or starting their own campaign to end distracted driving,” Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said in a press release.
