DISTRACTED (TEXTING WHILE) DRIVING STAYING FOCUSED BEHIND THE WHEEL

What is distracted driving? Word of the Year 2009: Distracted Driving Distracted driving – what many are guilty of when they use digital devices on the go – is rapidly entering law books around the world and earns the 2009 Word of the Year choice at Webster’s New World® College Dictionary.

U.S. DOT Definition Distracted driving is any non- driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increases the risk of crashing.

EXAMPLES OF DISTRACTED DRIVING

About 1 million had cell phones in 1987 About 50 million had cell phones in 1997 In 2007, about 250 million had cell phones or about 82% of all Americans DISTRACTED DRIVING…A GROWING PROBLEM

 Visual—eyes off the road  Manual—hands off wheel  Cognitive—mind off the road PRIMARY FORMS OF DISTRACTION M C V Hands free phone Texting M C V Reaching M C V M C V Radio tuning

“An important finding…is that 80 percent of all crashes…involved the driver looking away from the forward roadway just prior to the.” 100 – Car Study (DOT HS ) 1  Crash involvement is four times greater  80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes involve some type of distraction  More than 500,000 were injured due to a distracted driver in 2008  6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes that involved distracted or an inattentive driver

Texting while driving is illegal in… Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute Map of Texting Bans

…and South Dakota* Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute Map of Texting Bans

*SOUTH DAKOTA LAW Any person who drives any vehicle upon a highway, alley, public park, recreational area, or upon the property of a public or private school, college, or university carelessly and without due caution, at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger any person or property, not amounting to reckless driving as defined in § , is guilty of careless driving.

SOUTH DAKOTA LAW  Class 2 Misdemeanor  30 days in jail  $500 fine  Or both

Resources

US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood… Eliminate Crashes Due to Distraction ENFORCEMENT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY EDUCATION

PSA: DON’T TEXT WHILE DRIVING

What You Can Do  Set a good example  Before you drive, turn phone off or silence the ringer  Drive defensively  Manage your time  Remember that “driving time” is for driving  Help spread the word

What Law Enforcement Can Do Avoid texting while driving Establish policies for your agency Promote education and training on enforcing existing distracted driving laws Conduct HVE programs

What Employers Can Do Establish employee policies Create a culture of safety Conduct campaigns to raise awareness Don’t be afraid to ask for help

See Handouts:  Texting Policy  Model Legislation M ODEL L ANGUAGE

Something to think about…

Additional Information

Contact Information  JC Carpenter, Director  South Dakota Office of Highway Safety    Mary Damon, Regional Program Manager  NHTSA  