2009 Distracted Driving Summit Photos from Washington
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mattmontgomery at: 10/2/2009 | |
Photos from the National Distracted Driving Summit
U.S. Department of Transportation Summit brings international attention to the problem of electronic distractions
Leading the call for a cultural shift in how Americans view safe driving, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today challenged over 250 safety experts, industry representatives, elected officials and members of the public to help put an end to distracted driving. The Secretary's call to action kicked off a two-day Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, DC that highlighted the under-recognized dangers of distracted behavior behind the wheel.
“Every single time someone takes their eyes or their focus off the road - even for just a few seconds - they put their lives and the lives of others in danger,” said Secretary LaHood. “Distracted driving is unsafe, irresponsible and in a split second, its consequences can be devastating.”
Secretary LaHood announced new research findings by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that show nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. On any given day in 2008, more than 800,000 vehicles were driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone.
Across the board, federal researchers who have directly observed drivers of all ages found that more and more people are using a variety of hand-held devices while driving – not just cell phones, but also iPods, video games, Blackberrys and GPS systems. In particular, cell phone use for talking and texting is now more prevalent on our nation's roads, rail systems and waterways, carrying a dangerous potential for accidents.
Cell phones and texting are now the primary means of communication for many people, especially young adults. NHTSA’s research shows that the worst offenders are the youngest drivers: men and women under 20 years of age.
“We now know that the worst offenders are the youngest, least experienced drivers,” said Secretary LaHood. “Unfortunately though, the problem doesn't end there. Distracted driving occurs across all age groups and all modes of transportation, from cars to buses and trucks to trains. We must work together to find solutions that will prevent crashes caused by driver distraction.”
To further study how cell phone distraction affects commercial truck and motor coach drivers, Secretary LaHood also announced a new study the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is undertaking this month through June 2010. The study will help FMCSA better understand the prevalence of cell phone distraction in conjunction with crashes and near-crashes.
The two-day Summit brought together safety experts, researchers, industry representatives, elected officials and members of the public to share their expertise, experiences and ideas for reducing distracted driving behavior and addressing the safety risk posed by the growing problem across all modes of transportation.
Authoritative speakers from around the nation lead interactive sessions on a number of key topics including the extent and impact of distracted driving, current research, regulations and best practices. At the summit’s conclusion, Secretary LaHood announced concrete steps the Department is taking to combat this problem.
GOHS Director Bob Dallas was honored to be part of this important assembly of traffic leaders brought together by Secretary LaHood. Below are some of his photos from the Summit including leaders from the Governor's Highway Safety Association (GHSA). For more information on the Distracted Driving Summit, click on:
http://www.rita.dot.gov/distracted_driving_summit/
For a larger image, click on each photo....
TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE
TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE
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National Youth Traffic Safety Month PSA Challenge
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mattmontgomery at: 10/1/2009 | |
New Drive to Life PSA Challenge Part of
National Youth Traffic Safety Month!
Use your creativity to develop a traffic safety PSA and enter to win a trip to New York City and a $1,000 scholarship.
NOYS is teaming up with The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc., a non-profit group that for more than 40 years has been producing and distributing free driver education programs, to invite young people to help get out important safe driving messages in their own thoughts andwords.
Traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for young people in the U.S. Despite seemingly constant warnings from parents, police, educators and the media, the combination of inexperience and poor judgment leads to an estimated annual toll of more than 5,600 teen deaths on our roads and highways, and a staggering 375,000 injuries. Some injuries - scrapes and broken bones-- may heal in weeks or months. Others, such as traumatic brain injury, will lead to a lifetime disability ranging from paralysis to speech and motion impairments.
For more information on how to participate, click on:
http://www.drivetolife.com/
TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE
TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE
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GHSA News Release on Distracted Driving Summit
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mattmontgomery at: 9/28/2009 | |
News from Washington:
Distracted Driving Summit Offers Chance to Address Issue Comprehensively
Washington, D.C. -- The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) will be among the many organizations represented at this week's Distracted Driving Summit in the nation's capital, September 30 and October 1. GHSA Chairman Vernon F. Betkey, Jr. will be joined by GHSA Executive Direct or Barbara Harsha as well as GHSA Members from Georgia, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.
Chairman Betkey will present GHSA's perspective on Thursday, October 1 on a panel entitled "Legislation, Regulation and Enforcement for Dealing with Distracted Driving." According to Betkey, "GHSA is advocating a broad approach to distracted driving. New laws should not be an ending point, but rather a beginning. Effective enforcement strategies need to be developed and shared. We must also educate the public about how to best minimize and manage distractions behind the wheel."
To help educate our most distracted drivers, teens, tomorrow GHSA and Ford Mot or Company Fund will host a special Ford Driving Skills for Life event focusing on distractions for a select number of D.C. area high school students. This unique course educates teens about the growing danger of driver distractions. Students will receive hands-on instruction and behind-the-wheel training from some of the nation's top driving instructors.
According to Betkey, "Education plays a key role in minimizing driver distraction, particularly with teen drivers, who constantly use cell phones and other electronic devices. High-tech, interactive programs such as Driving Skills for Life effectively complement state laws and graduated licensing programs and offer highway safety officials a tool to address driver distraction."
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State cell phone and texting laws as well as an overview of the distracted driving issue can be found online at www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html. Betkey's Distracted Driving Forum presentation will be posted at www.ghsa.org on Thursday m orning.
The Ford Driving Skills for Life event will be held at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, September 29. Sessions begin at 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. Contact Wes Sherwood of F ord at 313-390-5660 for more information.
More inf ormation about the Distracted Driving Summit is posted online at :www.rita.dot.gov/distracted_driving_summit.
TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE
TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE
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Child Passenger Safety Week Kickoff on September 10th
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mattmontgomery at: 9/9/2009 | |
SAVING YOUNG LIVES WITH CHILD SAFETY SEATS:
BUCKLE-UP FOR CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK
WHAT: CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK NEWS CONFERENCE
To kick-off a week of nationwide child safety seat checks
WHEN: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 at 10:30AM
WHERE: ROCKDALE COUNTY GOVERNMENT COMPLEX
1400 Parker Road, Conyers, GA 30094.
WHY: Because car crashes are still the No.1 Killer of our kids
NEWS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED
Join the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) and its child passenger safety partners to answer your questions about Georgia’s life-saving child safety seat campaign. The new conference precedes National Seat Check Saturday on Sept, 12 and National Child Passenger Safety Week Sept. 12 thru Sept. 18. Members of the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute (GTIPI), GOHS and the local public safety community will be on hand to speak.
PHOTO-OPS
1.) This will be a great opportunity to shoot demonstration footage for your noon broadcasts! Our child passenger safety experts will demonstrate the proper way to install a child safety seat in order to maximize protection in the event of something as seemingly commonplace as stopping short at a traffic signal.
2). News conference will provide tie-in with Grandparents Day on Sunday, Sept. 13th. Older driver safety demonstrations and speakers will also be included to make sure grandparents and grandchildren travel safely together.
NEWS MEDIA INVITED
One-on-one interviews available with our Child Passenger Safety Experts: Research demonstrates that child safety seats, when used correctly, can reduce the chances of a fatal injury by 71-percent for infants and 54-percent for toddlers in passenger vehicles. The facts are clear—children who do not use child passenger safety seats are three times more likely to be injured than those buckled-up in safety seats. For details on child safety seat check events and inspection stations in your community, visit our website at www.gahighwaysafety.org
TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE
TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE
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