Forget seatbelts, let the kids fly free in the back seat, and chug that beer while you barrel down the road; just don't touch that cell phone in your pocket.
This is the light in which a recent USA Today article seemed to depict Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood's most recent year in keeping American drivers safe. This is not quite the way that Lahood sees things.
In USA Today, the reporter criticized Lahood for spending more money on raising awareness of distracted driving – usually driving while texting or talking on a cell phone – rather than spending federal dollars on the tired old story of drunk driving, seatbelts, and child restraints.
They even go so far as to say that distracted driving really isn't that big of a problem and that Lahood is making a mountain out of a molehill.
Lahood contends that, while he did indeed spend more on the distracted driving, the Department of Transportation (DOT) still poured plenty of funds into the other major automotive killers.
Both sources cite a major problem in gathering evidence one way or another. After an accident occurs, it is rather unlikely that many people will admit that they were using their cell phone at the time of impact. Because of this, the rate of accidents caused by distracted driving is a seemingly small 16 percent.
I have to say I'm with Lahood. While some of the data may not add up, it's understandable that people lie as to why they got into their accident in the first place, and with no lasting proof such as the presence of drugs or alcohol, authorities and statisticians are powerless against these untruths.
I admit that a lack of seatbelts and child restraints is still a problem, as is driving while intoxicated. These issues, however, have also been in the national discussion for many years. The issue of distracted driving, especially texting while driving, is quite new.
It is also important to note that distracted driver accidents went up in states that enacted no-cell laws. This is because people did not stop using their cell phones while driving, they simply held the phone out of sight and were staring into their laps as they hit the car in front of them.
I know I've been tempted to read that latest text or e-mail that comes over my phone while I'm on the road, but I've had one very close call myself and I do not intend to get any closer to slamming my car into something else when I can wait five minutes to read the text at a standstill.
Be smart out there; I know it seems like you have it under control when driving and texting, but it only takes one miniscule mistake to result in catastrophe.
E-mail: michael.tyson@ubspectrum.com
