National Safety Council Calls on Legislators to Address Distracted Driving

ITASCA, Ill., March 29, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Safety Council encourages all motorists to observe Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April and this year is urging legislators across the country to enact comprehensive laws to further prevent distracted driving injuries and deaths on our roadways.

The National Safety Council believes a full ban on electronic device use behind the wheel is the best way to keep drivers safe; however, data collected by the Council indicates that while many states have implemented partial distracted driving laws, still others are woefully behind in addressing the issue.

According to the National Safety Council State of Safety report, which grades states on actions and policies they have taken – or not taken – to reduce risk for all residents, significant work at the legislative level still needs to be done to address distracted driving in the U.S.

The report evaluated each state and Washington, D.C., on whether they have a texting ban for all drivers, as well as whether they have a total cellphone ban for teens and novice drivers.

Four states – Florida, Arizona, Montana and Missouri – lack a law in either area, and 16 states have addressed only one of the two areas. Since the report was completed last year, New Mexico, Texas and Iowa have joined 27 other states and D.C. in passing legislation in both areas.

"The National Safety Council is encouraged to see legislators addressing distracted driving at the state level, but more work needs to be done," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "No state currently has a law that completely bans all electronic-device use behind the wheel, and the Council believes a full ban – including a ban on hands-free electronic devices – is the most effective way to prevent distracted driving crashes."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration acknowledges that distracted driving data is incomplete. States such as Connecticut, New York and Wisconsin are leading the way when it comes to including details about handheld cellphone use, texting and other distracted driving measures in crash reports, according to the "Undercounted is Underinvested" study by the National Safety Council.

"It is only by collecting and analyzing crash data that we can truly understand the impact of distracted driving our roadways," Hersman said.

Joining the Road to Zero coalition provides another opportunity to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. The Council leads the 650-group coalition with USDOT, and all are committed to ending roadway fatalities by 2050.

The National Safety Council observes Distracted Driving Awareness Month each April to remember the thousands lost each year to preventable crashes. It will host a Thunderclap on social media at 8 a.m. CST Monday, April 2, and it will host a webinar – "Engaging Ways to Address Distracted Driving at Work" – at 11 a.m. CST Thursday, April 19. 

Visit nsc.org/justdrive for more information and resources, including posters, fact sheets, infographics and social media posts.

About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact.

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SOURCE National Safety Council

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