Texting Leads to Increase in Distracted Driving Deaths

Texting while driving likely caused more than 16,000 road fatalities between 2002 and 2007, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Public Health.  "After declining from 1999 to 2005, fatalities from distracted driving increased 28% after 2005, rising from 4572 fatalities to 5870 in 2008."    The authors concluded that distracted driving "is a growing public safety hazard. Specifically, the dramatic rise in texting volume since 2005 appeared to be contributing to an alarming rise in distracted driving fatalities."

Second Summit on Distracted Driving

Officials at Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's second summit on distracted driving said they have "made progress in pushing states to target drivers who send text messages and use mobile devices from the road, but too many people are being killed because of inattentive motorists."  LaHood said, "Every time someone takes their focus off the road — even if it's just for a moment — they put their lives and the lives of others in danger."  Read more.

Distracted Driving Caused 16% of Fatal Crashes in '09

"Distracted driving – including the use of a cell phone behind the wheel – resulted in 5,474 deaths in the U.S. last year, the Transportation Department announced Monday."  Read more.

New App Prevents Distracted Driving

A new Blackberry smartphone app known as LifeSaver is a "GPS-enabled zero-tolerance distracted driving application that eliminates the temptation to text, email or talk while driving."  Read more.