Combating distracted driving: managing behavioral and technological risks: hearing before the Committee on Commerce, Science

LC Number: KF26 .C69 2009w OCLC Number: (OCoLC)652498156 Subject: Distracted driving -- United States -- Prevention. Excerpt: ...oolishness and I'm still alive. So we can all do this without raising our deficit one cent. The new grant program and advertising campaign would be paid for by redirecting unused surpluses from the current seatbelt safety program. To wit, no new costs. We should not have to mourn the tragic loss of any more precious lives needlessly cut short. It is time to bring a new sense of safety and shared responsibility to our roads. This is a major subject for this Committee. I call on the Ranking Member. STATEMENT OF HON. KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, U.S. SENATOR FROM TEXAS Senator Hutchison. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank you for calling this hearing and for taking the lead on the bill that we are co-sponsoring. I think this is a very important issue and I think the way we have directed the legislation is appropriate, and I will talk about that in a minute. Driving while distracted, unfortunately, is not a new phenomenon. But as technology has developed, we're no longer talking about just a cellphone. We're now talking about BlackBerries, GPS systems, MP3 players, televisions, and texting on the phones, as well as just listening, and other computerized devices. It means we do have to take action. The National Transportation Safety Board reports that in 2008 almost 6,000 people died from crashes that resulted from distracted driving. This accounted for 16 percent of all traffic fatalities last year, up from 12 percent the year before. I think most of us would agree that driving while distracted poses serious safety risks to the drivers, but also to passengers and anyone sharing the road. Unfortunately, studies have shown that, while people are aware of the safety risks caused by using cellphone and BlackBerries, they still participate in doing it. A number o...