According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is "any non-driving activity in which a person engages that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increases the risk of crashing".
There are three main types of distracted driving:
o Visual — taking your eyes off the road
o Manual — taking your hands of the wheel
o Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing
Texting while driving involves all 3 types of distraction!
Cell phone use and texting are two of the most prevalent and most dangerous examples of distracted driving. A recent National Safety Council estimate finds at least 28% of motor vehicle crashes in 2008 – 1.6 million accidents – were due to cell phone use and texting.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Pledge
Oprah Winfrey originally started as the "one-woman media machine", but has recently grown into a global campaign to stop texting and using a phone all together while driving. The No Phone Zone is a pledge that you can join in order to show your support towards the campaign and commit yourself to phone free driving.
<-- Click on image to zoom in
Why Take On the No Phone Zone?
Over the last decade, distracted driving has become a national epidemic. In 2008, 5,870 people were killed and an estimated 515,000 people were injured due to distracted driving, according to the NHTSA. Cell phone use by drivers is the core of this crisis. Talking or texting while driving has deadly consequences everyday on American roadways. That’s why Oprah and Harpo Studios have created No Phone Zone to work to change our cell phone behavior and ultimately prevent more senseless tragedies from happening.
As Oprah says when she talks about the No Phone Zone campaign, “A call or text isn’t worth taking a life. We must not allow more mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, sisters and brothers to die before we take action against distracted driving. Let’s put a stop to it now by making our cars a No Phone Zone.” Oprah has made it her mission to break America’s addiction to talking and texting while driving and bring Americans back to reality before more lives are lost.
There's even a National No Phone Zone Day!
As Oprah says when she talks about the No Phone Zone campaign, “A call or text isn’t worth taking a life. We must not allow more mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, sisters and brothers to die before we take action against distracted driving. Let’s put a stop to it now by making our cars a No Phone Zone.” Oprah has made it her mission to break America’s addiction to talking and texting while driving and bring Americans back to reality before more lives are lost.
There's even a National No Phone Zone Day!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
More Dangerous Than Drunk Driving? WHAT?!
Studies across the country are being conducted to address the growing problem of distracted drivers that are texting or talking on the phone while driving. They are recently finding evidence proving that this growing problem is even more dangerous than driving drunk!!!
The Today Show and NBC news worked together to do a live TV broadcast in Washington D.C.
This report showed not only the effects of using a phone while driving a car, train, bus, etc., but also reported an interview with the victims of a "texting while driving" fatal car crash. When the interviewer spoke with the widow of one of the victims, she shared her feelings and emotions left with her after the crash. In this video, she fights up the courage to express her opinion of the killer as selfish and irresponsible. Even the killer said: "When I left that morning, it was definitely not my intention to hurt or harm anyone". No one wishes to purposely kill someone this way, but the minute you pick up your phone while you're driving, you are immediately putting other people's lives at risk.
The Today Show and NBC news worked together to do a live TV broadcast in Washington D.C.
This report showed not only the effects of using a phone while driving a car, train, bus, etc., but also reported an interview with the victims of a "texting while driving" fatal car crash. When the interviewer spoke with the widow of one of the victims, she shared her feelings and emotions left with her after the crash. In this video, she fights up the courage to express her opinion of the killer as selfish and irresponsible. Even the killer said: "When I left that morning, it was definitely not my intention to hurt or harm anyone". No one wishes to purposely kill someone this way, but the minute you pick up your phone while you're driving, you are immediately putting other people's lives at risk.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Stats to Back It Up
--The #1 source of driver inattention is the use of a wireless device. (Virginia Tech/NHTSA)
--Drivers that use cell phones are 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to kill or injure themselves. (NHTSA, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
--10% of drivers aged 16 to 24 years old are on their phone at any one time.
--Driving while distracted is a factor in 25% of police reported crashes.
--Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37% (Carnegie Mellon)
--Cell phone use while driving delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 , according to a University of Utah study.
--Today, an estimated 11% of vehicles during daylight hours – one in every 10 – have a driver who is using a phone. (NHTSA)
--When drivers turn off their cell phones, they are 4 times less likely to get into accidents serious enough to cause injury. (2005 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
--The proportion of drivers reportedly distracted at the time of a fatal crash has increased from 8% in 2004 to 11% in 2008. (NHTSA)
--Drivers that use cell phones are 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to kill or injure themselves. (NHTSA, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
--10% of drivers aged 16 to 24 years old are on their phone at any one time.
--Driving while distracted is a factor in 25% of police reported crashes.
--Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37% (Carnegie Mellon)
--Cell phone use while driving delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 , according to a University of Utah study.
--Today, an estimated 11% of vehicles during daylight hours – one in every 10 – have a driver who is using a phone. (NHTSA)
--When drivers turn off their cell phones, they are 4 times less likely to get into accidents serious enough to cause injury. (2005 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
--The proportion of drivers reportedly distracted at the time of a fatal crash has increased from 8% in 2004 to 11% in 2008. (NHTSA)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Who’s Supporting Oprah’s No Phone Zone Campaign?
CyberGuy Supports Oprah’s No Phone Zone Campaign
Kurt the CyberGuy demonstrates in this video the "text-free tools" that will encourage you to sign the petition in the name of winning back safe roads.
More Support
Over 200,000 people have already pledged to make their car a No Phone Zone, including a list of more than 60 celebrities such as Sandra Bullock, Tina Fey, Paula Abdule, Chace Crawford, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dr. Phill and Robin McGraw , Shaun White, Morgan Freeman, Elton John, Jerry Seinfeld, the cast of Glee, and Lady Antebellum, among many others.
Kurt the CyberGuy demonstrates in this video the "text-free tools" that will encourage you to sign the petition in the name of winning back safe roads.
More Support
Over 200,000 people have already pledged to make their car a No Phone Zone, including a list of more than 60 celebrities such as Sandra Bullock, Tina Fey, Paula Abdule, Chace Crawford, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dr. Phill and Robin McGraw , Shaun White, Morgan Freeman, Elton John, Jerry Seinfeld, the cast of Glee, and Lady Antebellum, among many others.
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