Distracted Driving Big Problem #VisionZero

We’ve known about distracted driving dangers for many years now.  But not much is happening to improve the situation, even cell phone / texting bans for drivers. New cars continue to come to market with technology that caters to drivers talking on the phone, checking Facebook, email, and text messages.

But, this new study out last week has some shocking evidence, that 1 in 4 drivers was on a phone just before crash, study of distracted driving says.

Traffic fatalities have risen by 14 percent over the last two years, and distracted driving is a likely factor along with the improved economy and low gas prices, which have put more cars on the road, according to the National Safety Council, a nonprofit public service group. The nonprofit Governors Highway Safety Association has projected an 11 percent increase in the number of pedestrians killed in 2016 compared with 2015, and also cited smartphone distraction.

Our roads are getting more dangerous for pedestrians, and bicycle riders.

About the time we all first started hearing the term distracted driving, we were enjoying safer streets for bicycle riders and pedestrians. That trend is over and the rising stats are alarming. Some states are increasing fines. Enforcement is still challenging and under enforced either because of challenges, under-staffed. Some bicycle and pedestrian folks think walking and cycling police enforcement is the way to catch distracted drivers.

Watch out for drivers using their phones. We know that distracted driving is a fairly dominant reason people have a crash, but we can’t always get away from them especially when they are all over our roads.