Texting Biggest Driving Distraction on Road Among Teens

In November New Jersey became the second state after Washington to ban driving while texting—a growing problem on the road. Distractions like cell phones, text messages, the radio or even talkative passengers can prove deadly, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).   
  
A survey by Liberty Mutual Group and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) showed that teens considered sending text messages via cell phones to be their biggest distraction. Of the teens surveyed, 37 percent said that text messaging was extremely or very distracting, while 20 percent said that they were distracted by their emotional states and 19 percent said that having friends in the car was distracting. A January 2007 survey by Nationwide found that 19 percent of motorists say they text message while driving.   
  
Legislation that would amend the Insurance Law in New York to include a cell phone safety component as part of the National Safety Council’s defensive driving course has been introduced by Senator James Alesi (R-Monroe) and Assemblywoman Susan V. John (D-Monroe).   
  
“The aim of this bill is not only to deter the practice of texting while driving by imposing fines,” said Alesi, “but more importantly to stress the need for an educational component for our young drivers on the possible fatal consequences of distracted driving. Education and prevention are the key components of this legislation and I have no doubt that it will save lives.”   
  
“Any and all bills presented by the State Senate to help highway safety will be supported by the State Police,” said Major Mark A. Koss, commander for Troop E of the New York State Police.   
  
The federal government estimates that 30 percent of all crashes in the United States involve driver distraction. Inattentive driving accounted for 6.4 percent of crash fatalities in 2003—the latest data available—according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. While cell phones and text messaging top the list, distractions also include radios, palm pilots, lap tops, navigational aides, eating, drinking, grooming, reading, writing, television watching and attending to children.   
  
“A car is not your living room, office or kitchen. It is a means of getting from one point to another and must be used judiciously,” said Loretta Worters, vice president with the I.I.I. “People can become so absorbed in their conversations or activities that their ability to concentrate on the crucial act of driving is severely impaired, jeopardizing the safety of vehicle occupants and pedestrians.”   
  
Employers are now concerned that they may be held liable for accidents caused by their employees while driving and conducting work-related conversations on cell phones, according to the I.I.I. Under the doctrine of vicarious responsibility, employers may be held legally accountable for the negligent acts of employees committed in the course of employment. Employers may also be found negligent if they fail to put in place a policy for the safe use of cell phones.   
  
“In response, many companies have established cell phone usage policies,” said Ms. Worters. “Some allow employees to conduct business over the phone as long as they pull over to the side of the road or into a parking lot. Others have completely banned the use of all wireless devices in the car.”