All motorists engage in potentially dangerous distracting activities while driving, including talking on cell phones, according to a new survey from the American Automobile Association’s Foundation for Traffic Safety. According to the association, distracted driving accounts for 25 percent to 50 percent of all motor vehicle crashes.
AAA is encouraging states to include a model section on distracted driving in their driver education courses. The organization’s proposed model section includes a discussion on causes of driver distraction, how to deal with common distractions and how to manage emotional and technological distractions while driving. According to the AAA survey, six states-Arkansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Virginia and Wisconsin-currently devote a section to driver distraction. AAA’s proposed model section builds on those programs and adds information from its own public service campaigns and research studies.
“It is essential to provide comprehensive information on distracted driving to all new drivers before they receive their license,” said Robert Darbelnet, president and chief executive officer of AAA. “Working with the states to improve the manuals and educational curricula is key to helping reduce crashes and save lives amongst this vulnerable driving population.”
In addition, AAA said it will launch a new nationwide radio and television public service campaign on distracted driving to reach experienced drivers.
“AAA’s research simply confirms the importance of what the wireless industry has been doing for years-educating drivers on the many distractions they face behind the wheel. The study found that most of the distractions drivers face are neither new nor technological,” said Tom Wheeler, president of The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association.
