Distracted Driving Study

  • December 13th, 2018

Summary of Recommendations

  • Major PI&E Effort 
    • Consequences of the current situation
      • The mounting death and injury toll
      • Everyone think they are the exception
      • Focus of effort: no exceptions – no use of cell phones by driver
      • Like smoking, it must become socially unacceptable
    • Drivers need understanding of cognitive effects of any and all cell use
      • Not just a matter of hand on/off the wheel or eye misdirection
      • Uses areas of the brain that are essential to safety
      • Especially true if any level of alcohol/drugs or emotional distress are involved
    • Publicize changes in legal and IT countermeasures (see below)
  • Major Enforcement Effort
    • Develop and apply better methods for cell phone use detection
    • Stronger penalties when detected
    • Training for better identification and recording
  • Legal and IT Countermeasures 
    • Legislation enabling checking for cell phone use for ALL crashes
    • Burden or proof shift to cell phone users
    • Per se assumption of responsibility
    • Get data from detection back into the crash records
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