Massachusetts, progressive as it may be, is still lagging behind some other states when it comes to addressing the issue of distracted driving, even though the numbers of auto accidents caused by cell phone use continue to rise.
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that a quarter of the 1.4 million crashes in the US involve some kind of cell phone use, while 6,000 of all the accident-related fatalities in a year are caused by distracted driving. NSC estimates that in more than 1 out of every 4 motor vehicle crashes in the US, the use of cell phone was involved.
Currently, 28 states have bans on texting while driving, including Vermont. The Massachusetts House and Senate have passed different versions of a texting ban, but have not come up with a proposal that could pass both houses, the Boston Globe reports.
Massachusetts is also behind other states in the use of public education and law enforcement to reduce distracted driving.
There are other ways to approach the solution for the problem of distracted driving. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently asked the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to help come up with practical solutions for tracking drivers who are operating their vehicles while using their cell phones at the same time. However, this process may take longer.
As more and more teens and recent high school grads will join the roads this summer, implementing a ban on texting and driving and curbing the use of cell phones while driving is urgent and imperative.
We should all try to make the roads safer.
There have been calls to doctors to warn their patients on the use of distracted driving as they would warn patients on the adverse health effects of smoking or alcohol. Also, the insurance company Arbella launched a Distractology101 this spring course to educate teens on the effects of distracted driving on the driver’s performance, while Liberty Mutual launched its driving game “2099″ for the same reason.
Until any of these efforts make a difference, you can educate your young teen driver or any other driver you know about the dangers of cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle.
And to go one step further, have your teen sign our FREE Safe Driving Contract before they hit the road.
To see the contract in a PDF version, please click here.
