The Focus

This presentation is made possible through A grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Is dedicated to those who have lost their lives and provided the motivation for the creation of this program This program may contain copyrighted materials used under the fair education exemption to the US Copyright Law

FOCUS

Which one Kills More

Comparison.357 Bullet 158 grain Weight grams Velocity feet per second Knock Down Power- 774 ft pounds Average American Automobile Mid-Size Sedan Size- 6.5 feet wide 14 feet long Weight pounds Velocity- 103 feet per second Knock Down Power- 294,000 ft pounds Source: WikiAnswers

The Automobile 33,808 vehicle occupants killed 2009 Same as 1 Airline Crash – –Killing 92 passengers daily Source: NHTSA 2008

Driving True or False? Requires very little skill!

Define Driving Driving? – –Moving a vehicle from one place to another Safe Operation? – –Controlling the complete operation: Mechanically Physically Mentally

Driver License Requirements Over 25 years of age – –Successfully complete a written exam – –Successfully complete an eye test – –Successfully demonstrate driving ability – –Follow requirements of licensing Under 25 – –Complete driver education course? – –All of the above Source: TX Driver’s Handbook

Society’s Attitude on Traffic Laws Source: Instructor Experience/Observation

Speed 70 Miles per hour – –50% chance of surviving the crash 90 Miles per hour – –Less than 10% chance of survival 35 mile trip at 70 miles per hour – –30 minutes 35 mile trip at 90 miles per hour – –22 ½ minutes Source: Report on Effectiveness of Seatbelts/Airbags NHTSA 2003; Speed calculation formula

Speed 20 mile trip to destination Required to arrive at 8:00 AM You leave for destination at 7:50 AM How fast must you drive to arrive on time? Source: Speed calculation formula ; common sense

Safety Restraints Required for all vehicle occupants Texas at 93% compliance 63% of occupants killed non-compliance Males age 16 to 25 Click it or Ticket? – –Until fatalities end in Texas – –Buckle up or pay up Source: TX Transportation Code ; TXDOT; distraction.gov; buckleuptexas.com

Impaired Driving November 17, 1999 – –12 September 11, 2001 – –3,000 September 8, 2004 – –1,000 Every Year in America – –16,000 Source: Wikipedia 2009; Bryan Eagle 1999; CNN 2001, 2004, MADD

Impaired Driving Texas is getting better – –Prior to 1980 Not much opposition – –1980 Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Moved headquarters to Texas 1983 – –1984 Legal drinking age raised to 21 – –1995 Texas Administrative License Revocation Source: Instructor Experience/Observation; MADD; Wikipedia

Impaired Driving Texas is getting better – –1999 Texas lowers BAC to.08 – – adopted as federal standard – –2002 TXDOT creates LEADRS – –Law Enforcement Advanced DWI/DUI Reporting System – –But Today A lack of support from society Source: Instructor Experience/Observation; MADD; Wikipedia

Impaired Driving You drink, you don’t drive You drink, You drive, You Go to Jail You show up in court, You are held responsible Texas can do better Source: Instructor Experience/Observation; MADD; Wikipedia; buckleuptexas.com

A

Distracted Driving Reports indicate most crashes involve some type of distraction. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has identified Distracted Driving as a serious and life threatening practice B Source: US DOT 2009

Source: Quote from Secretary Ray LaHood January 2010

Distracted Driving 2009 Word of the year (Webster's Dictionary) “Distracted Driving” An Epidemic A Menace to Society Take personal responsibility – – Ray LaHood US Transportation Secretary To combat this problem we must understand driving is serious business! Source: Quote from Secretary Ray LaHood October 2010

Distracted Driving Distracting Activities? – –Eating and Drinking – –Grooming – –Reading – –Navigation Systems – –Changing Radio Stations – –MP-3 Players – –Changing CD’s – –Cell Phones and PDA’s Source: distraction.gov

Distracted Driving Texting While Driving – –One of the most dangerous distractions – –Involves three driving distractions Visual Manual Cognitive Source: distraction.gov

Texas Must Get Serious Good Drivers Follow the Rules – –All of the Rules Good Drivers Protect Themselves – –Safety Restraints Good Drivers Don’t Drink and Drive – –At All Good Drivers Drive – –Focus on the Important Task Source: Instructor Experience/Observation; TX Drivers Handbook; letstalkdriving.co.uk