E*Driveline: September 2009
A Driver and Traffic Safety Newsletter edited by Jack Weaver Ph.D. and produced by the United Safety Council. 877-892-0002 www.unitedsafetycouncil.com
BITS AND PIECES:
Every month I receive hundreds of interesting and useful Driver and Traffic Safety emails, newsletters, etc. containing information I frequently find helpful in my work as a traffic safety professional. When appropriate, I share this information with you via the E*Driveline. In this regard, high priority traffic safety messages such as “Cell Phone Texting and other Driver Distractions” have been the focus of the recent E*Driveline messages, and I have not shared less critical, but important driver and traffic safety information with you. Thus, this edition of E*Driveline emphases those important but less critical items and topics that were not included in previous editions of the E*Driveline:
Safe Road Maps
This website, SafeRoadMaps.org, updated by the researchers at the University of Minnesota's Center for Excellence in Rural Safety (CERS), allows users to enter their address to see a map or satellite image of all of the road fatalities that have occurred in their area. The search categories can be: year; road type; state (and the associated state safety policies); the age of the driver; whether speeding or drinking was a factor; and if the driver was wearing a seat belt. The resource will help drivers identify the most dangerous portions of the Roadway they travel.Bill Would Mandate Use of Ignition-Interlock Devices
A federal transportation bill now being debated in Congress would compel all states to require convicted drunk drivers to install alcohol-detecting ignition-interlock devices on their vehicles, USA Today reported July 30.States that fail to comply would lose a portion of the federal highway money under the legislation. Currently, 47 states and the District of Columbia require the devices in at least some drunk-driving cases, but Alabama, South Dakota and Vermont lack such laws. Eleven states require all drunk-driving offenders to install the devices, which require the driver to provide a breath sample proving they have no alcohol in their system before the car will start.
If passed, the law could result in up to one million of the devices being installed. The legislation is backed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Distracted Driving / A Risk Not Worth Taking
A Virginia Tech study confirms texting while driving is a huge risk. The results of the National Youth Traffic Safety Month survey that was sponsored by The Allstate Foundation indicated that although youth realize it is dangerous - they still text and drive. The survey indicated:
- Teens rank texting and talking on a cell among most dangerous driving risks(87 percent believe texting while driving is dangerous)
- Compared to other dangerous driving situations teens indicated that they feel texting is only second to the danger of driving on icy roads yet the majority admit to taking these preventable risks.
- 68 percent of teens admit to texting while driving (79 percent of females) but only 21 percent reported that they were confident in their driving ability while texting.
- 63 percent said talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous.
- 83 percent of teens admit to talking on their cell phone while driving (90 percent female) but only 43 percent reported that they were confident in their driving ability while talking on a cell phone.
The Virginia Tech study found texting while driving increases the risk of a crash many more than previous studies have concluded with motorists taking their eyes off the road longer than they do when talking or listening on their cell phones.
Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of collision about 6 times in cars and trucks. Right before a crash or near collision, drivers spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices, which was enough time at 55 mph to cover more than the length of a football field.
National Roadside Survey
On July 13, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the results of a new National Roadside Survey conducted by NHTSA. The survey confirms a continuing decline in the percentage of legally intoxicated drivers.In 1973, 7.5 percent of drivers had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. In the latest survey, that figure fell to 2.2 percent. It is illegal to operate a vehicle with a BAC of .08 or higher in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Previous roadside surveys conducted by NHTSA have measured only alcohol. But the 2007 survey used new screening techniques that detected other substances as well and in the future may help show the extent of drug impairment among drivers.
The survey found 16.3 percent of nighttime weekend drivers were drug positive. The survey focused on weekend nighttime drivers and found that the drugs used most commonly by drivers were: marijuana (8.6 percent); cocaine (3.9 percent); and over-the-counter and prescription drugs (3.9 percent).
NHTSA is conducting further research to assess how drug traces correspond to driver impairment since some drugs can remain in the body for days or even weeks. Should further research indicate that drugs pose the same type of traffic safety risk as alcohol, NHTSA is committed to applying lessons learned in fighting the drunk driving problem.
The 2007 survey involved more than 300 roadside locations throughout the U.S. Click HERE to view the Research Note.
COMING TRAFFIC SAFETY CONFERENCES:
- 2009 ADTSEA Conference: July 25-29, 2009. Charlotte, NC. For information: http://adtsea.iup.edu/adtsea/conference/2009
- 2009 Annual ADED Conference and Exhibits: August 8 - 11, 2009. Lexington, KY. For information call 859-223-5826.
- 2009 NSC Congress and Expo: Oct. 24-28, 2009. Orlando, FL. For information: www.congress.nsc.org.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
The United Safety Council
The United Safety Council offers a variety of Driver and Traffic Safety Programs and Services that may be helpful in your efforts to assess the driver's knowledge and skills, and prepare the drivers for specific driving requirements. For information relating to the available driver testing and training programs, please see the United Safety Council website (www.unitedsafetycouncil.com) or call toll-free 1-877-892-0002.
Satisfaction Guaranteed:
If you purchase a video driver testing or training program from United Safety Council, and the program does not meet your needs or expectations, you may return the program within 30 days for a refund (less shipping and handling costs).
Free Video Catalog:
If you wish to learn more about the driver and traffic safety video programs offered by United Safety Council, please order your free copy of our DVD Video Catalog through the United Safety Council website www.unitedsafetycouncil.com or call toll free 1-877-892-0002.
HUMOR:
An oldie, but a goodie, from Jack Burkert.... With all the sadness and trauma going on in the world, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person, which almost went unnoticed last week. Larry La Prise, the man who wrote the song, The Hokey Pokey, died peacefully at age 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in.... and then the trouble started.
