AAOS and Auto Alliance Unveil 2012 Campaign: A Reminder that an Automobile's Most Advanced Safety Feature is the Driver

Orthopaedic Surgeons, Automakers Continue Effort to Help People Keep their Eyes on the Road and Hands on the Wheel to Avoid Injuries

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), in partnership with the Auto Alliance, today unveiled its 2012 public service announcement (PSA) urging drivers to use the most advanced safety feature of their vehicles while behind the wheel ... themselves.

This is the third year of the national "Decide to Drive" safe-driver initiative, sponsored by the AAOS and the Alliance. The 2012 message, produced as a print advertisement, depicts a woman unveiling a car with the message:  "The most advanced safety feature this car has is the driver standing next to it."

Orthopaedic surgeons are the medical specialists who not only treat, but want to prevent traumas caused in road crashes and help all drivers "decide to drive" each time they are in the car. And, automakers recognize that raising awareness and understanding about driver behavior continues to be an important part of addressing the issue of driver distraction.

"'Decide to Drive' and the 2012 safe-driver ad offer an effective message about the choices that all drivers can make while behind the wheel," said AAOS president, John Tongue, M.D.   "I personally and firmly believe in this initiative, which warns all drivers about the threat of orthopaedic trauma associated with distracted driving. This initiative combines my two priorities—communications and safety—in a very important way."

The print ad will be distributed to more than 9,000 national and local media outlets and also will be seen in locations such as airports, shopping malls, and bus shelters.

"Understanding driver behavior is critical; the nature of communications has changed dramatically. For example, ten years ago, virtually no new cars came with integrated voice-driven communications. But today, that's becoming a common way of helping drivers keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel," said Mitch Bainwol, president and CEO of the Auto Alliance. 

About "Decide to Drive"

• This is the third year of the safe-driver initiative, "Decide to Drive," which previously included a middle school curriculum, a television PSA, a national driver habits survey and billboards across the country.
• In 2012, the AAOS and the Alliance aim to keep the conversation going and help drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Drivers can share stories of distracted driving and learn about the other components of this ongoing program on decidetodrive.org and continue the conversation on facebook.com/DecidetoDrive.org and twitter.com/decidetodrive.
• Orthopaedic surgeons treat the trauma that can result from crashes caused by distracted drivers, which is why the members of the AAOS hope to raise awareness about this danger and help drivers make the driving task their priority when behind the wheel.

Distracted Driving in the U.S.

• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010 there were an estimated 3,092 fatalities in distraction-affected crashes. 
• Technology and Distraction: Today about 234 million Americans ages 13 and older use mobile devices; about 160 million Americans are checking for updates on Facebook; and 73 percent of American adults use their phones for texting.
• According to the results of an AAOS-Harris Interactive Survey, 94 percent of drivers in America believe that distracted driving is a problem in the U.S. and 89 percent believe it is a problem within their own communities.
• This communications and technology revolution has forever changed our way of life – whether we are at home, in the office, at school, on the school bus or in our cars.
• The question isn't whether people will be connected; rather it's how and when.

AAOS' 2012 PSA Campaigns  

Decide to Drive

Auto Alliance

For more information on bone and joint health, visit orthoinfo.org

SOURCE Auto Alliance