(Washington, DC, Wednesday, April 13, 2022) It’s no surprise that distracted driving is dangerous and far too commonplace on our roads. According to the NHTSA, at any given moment during daylight hours, more than 350,000 drivers are actively holding a cell phone to their ear while driving.
During Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, and throughout the year, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and General Motors (GM) are working together to combat distracted driving and help all road users get to their destination safely.
While the problem of distracted driving is persistent and pervasive, there are a few simple steps any driver can take to make our roads safer. In addition to driver responsibility, there are additional solutions that can help address the distracted driving problem, such as vehicle enhancements that detect and alert a distracted driver.
The statistics are alarming:
- A driver looks away from the road for an average of five seconds to look at their phone. At 55 miles per hour, that’s like driving the length of a football field blindfolded.
- A 2021 survey by AAA found that more than half of drivers (51%) admitted they text and/or email on their phone while alone in their vehicle.
- Research shows that the risk of a crash while interacting with a handheld cell phone is 3.6 times higher than attentive driving with no distractions.
Pam Shadel Fisher from the GHSA discusses the dangers of distracted driving, as well as steps drivers and the automotive industry can take to make our roads safer.