Monica Zech - Speaking of safety... » Articles – In The News

TEXTING Still A MAJOR Problem On Our Roadways According To Auto Club Research

Monica Zech — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 03:08:22 +0000

Auto Club: Texting and

Manipulating Devices While

Driving Nearly Triples

July 13, 2011 | Category: Transportation and Traffic Safety

(LOS ANGELES, July 12, 2011) – Texting and manipulating electronic devices behind the wheel, while still relatively low, is nearly triple what it was before California’s texting ban became law, according to findings from the Automobile Club of Southern California’s latest roadside driver survey.

Before California’s texting ban went into effect in January 2009, about 1.4 percent of drivers on average were observed texting or manipulating an electronic device (such as a smart phone) at any point in time behind the wheel. According to the Auto Club’s latest survey using the same methodology at seven locations in Southern California, that proportion is now nearly three times as high – 4.1 percent at any time.

Some of the biggest changes observed in the Auto Club study have come in 2010 and 2011. The most recent survey found that 1.9 percent of drivers were texting and driving at any time, up about 20 percent from a year earlier. Even more significant was the change in the proportion of drivers seen holding and manipulating electronic devices, but not necessarily texting. That proportion doubled in the past year – to 2.3 percent. Increases in texting and the use of electronic devices while driving in California mirror the larger, global trend in these activities throughout daily life.

Auto Club studies have also examined the levels of hand-held cell phone use on the road. These findings demonstrate that California’s hand-held cell phone ban was far more effective than that for texting. Results showed that since June 2008, the month before the hand-held ban went into effect, driver use of the devices has dropped sharply – by 66 percent – from 9.3 percent to 3.2 percent. And that drop is remaining consistent through the second anniversary of the law, July 1, 2011.

The latest Auto Club observational survey results come on the heels of the National Transportation Safety Board’s discussion last week of a fatal crash between a tour boat and a barge that killed two foreign students and dumped 35 others into a shipping channel in Philadelphia. According to news reports, the pilot of the tug pushing the barge was talking on his cell phone and using a laptop.

The safety board said in news reports that the nation risks a surge in these types of distracted driving crashes unless the activity comes to be viewed as unacceptable as drinking and driving.

The Auto Club’s results, which have been showing a sharp upward trend in texting and manipulating devices through 2010 and 2011, indicate that California needs to pay more attention to combating theses important safety problems. “We need greater public awareness of the dangers of texting and using electronic devices behind the wheel,” said the Auto Club’s Government Affairs Manager Steve Finnegan. “The state also needs stronger penalties and targeted enforcement to reduce texting while driving – which is really the perfect storm of distraction that takes drivers’ eyes, hands, and brains off the task of driving.” And he added that “although the growth of in-car texting and related electronic device use mirrors the explosive growth of wireless use overall in society, it’s very troubling that this growth appears to have overcome the early effectiveness of the current law.”

The rise in texting while driving reflects the spike in mobile communications device use overall. According to the wireless industry trade association, CTIA, text messaging is enormously popular, with more than 2 trillion text messages sent and received on carriers’ networks in the U.S. during the 12-month period ending last December – or about 6 billion a day, according to CTIA. (This is up from 1.8 trillion text messages or 4.9 billion a day the previous year, according to CTIA statistics.)

Just-published research from the Nielsen Co. shows that data viewed on smartphones is up an average of 89 percent in the U.S. over a 12-month period that ended in March. The rise in data consumption was attributed to the use of more apps on the Apple and Google mobile operating systems. On average, an American’s smartphone had 22 apps, according to CTIA.

California law bans the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. According to the California Highway Patrol, enforcement of that ban includes citing drivers for using hand-held phones to access the Internet. The Golden State is one of 34 states, plus Washington D.C., that have banned texting while driving, including the sending, receiving and reading of text-based communication and e-mails. California law does not, however, explicitly ban the use of electronic equipment that is not a “communication device,” but that can access the Internet, such as the iPod Touch.

“Current penalties for texting while driving in the Golden State haven’t deterred the behavior,” said Finnegan. A motorist caught texting while driving is assessed a $20 base fine for a first offense and $50 for a second offense. Adding related penalties, the cost of a citation increases to between $114 and $143 for a first offense and to about $279 for a second offense. Unlike other moving violations, however, no “point” is placed on a motorist’s driving record. “This is unfortunate,” said Finnegan “since research shows that imposing points increases driver compliance with traffic safety laws.”

Senate Bill 28, now under consideration, would impose greater fines and levy a point, in some situations, on a driver’s DMV record for a second or subsequent violation. Unfortunately the bill’s provision on points was weakened from a version first introduced last year. Although not as effective as points, the bill increases the base fine to $50 for a first offense and $100 for the second. Adding current penalties to these proposed new base fines bring the total cost of citations to between $279 and $479.

The CHP has issued about 15,000 cell phone and texting citations per month so far in 2011—up considerably from prior years. Since California’s cell phone and texting laws went into effect, 410,000 citations have been issued by the agency.

“Giving out that many citations helps explain why we’ve seen a continuing decline in hand-held cell phone use in California,” explained Steven Bloch, Ph.D., the Auto Club’s senior traffic safety researcher. “The problem is that issuing citations for texting is far more difficult. Drivers typically hold texting and other electronic devices down low, making them hard for law enforcement officers to see. The result is that police agencies give out relatively few texting citations.”

Because of this challenge, the CHP has created and publicized “high enforcement periods,” in collaboration with local police agencies to target distracted drivers.

The Auto Club in-vehicle cell phone and texting surveys were each conducted using consistent methods of systematic random samples of about 4,000 vehicles that were passing by seven roadside sites in Orange County. Surveys were conducted during: June 2008, prior to the cell phone law first taking effect; July, August and October 2008; May and July 2009; March-April and July 2010 and June 2011. Observational surveys were conducted in morning, early afternoon, evening commutes on freeway entrances and exits, and urban, suburban and small city roadways.

*Note: I provide safe driving lectures for your company safety briefings and company conferences. I offer an eye-opening emergency response perspective, and a victim perspective, at the driving distractions and other bad driving habits that get us into trouble. I’ll change the way view traffic - reducing your chances of being involved in a collision. Email your request to monicazech@cox.net or call (619) 843-7218.

STOP Red Light Running

Monica Zech — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:51:54 +0000

Celebrate “STOP” Red Light Running Week!

http://www.stopredlightrunning.com/

Yes! Red Light Cameras Save Lives!

Read the report….

http://www.stopredlightrunning.com/pdfs/IIHS%20Study%20Press%20Release%202.1.11.pdf

Traffic Deaths Are Down In The State Of California

Monica Zech — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 06:51:24 +0000

Good news, traffic deaths are down in the state, but one is too many – especially when it’s someone you care about. Please be safe…

http://www.kmir6.com/news/local/126142793.html

How Our Driving Compares With Other Countries

Monica Zech — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:46:16 +0000

Research by the CDC compares driving in the Unied States with other countries:

http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsDistractedDriving/?source=govdelivery

Motorcyclist Dies During Protest Of Helmets

Monica Zech — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:50:05 +0000

Motorcyclist Dies While Protesting Helmets

Traffic Deaths Fell To Their Lowest Levels In 2010

Monica Zech — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:04:41 +0000

NHTSA 05-11
Friday, April 1, 2011
Contact: Karen Aldana
Tel: 202-366-9550

TRAFFIC FATALITIES IN 2010 DROP TO LOWEST LEVEL IN RECORDED HISTORY

DOT Estimates Three Percent Drop Beneath 2009 Record Low

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the number and rate of traffic fatalities in 2010 fell to the lowest levels since 1949, despite a significant increase in the number of miles Americans drove during the year.

“Last year’s drop in traffic fatalities is welcome news and it proves that we can make a difference,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Still, too many of our friends and neighbors are killed in preventable roadway tragedies every day. We will continue doing everything possible to make cars safer, increase seat belt use, put a stop to drunk driving and distracted driving and encourage drivers to put safety first.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) early projections, the number of traffic fatalities fell three percent between 2009 and 2010, from 33,808 to 32,788. Since 2005, fatalities have dropped 25 percent, from a total of 43,510 fatalities in 2005. The same estimates also project that the fatality rate will be the lowest recorded since 1949, with 1.09 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, down from the 1.13 fatality rate for 2009. The decrease in fatalities for 2010 occurred despite an estimated increase of nearly 21 billion miles in national vehicle miles traveled.

A regional breakdown showed the greatest drop in fatalities occurred in the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, where they dropped by 12 percent. Arizona, California and Hawaii had the next steepest decline, nearly 11 percent.

“The decrease in traffic fatalities is a good sign, but we are always working to save lives,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “NHTSA will continue pressing forward on all of our safety initiatives to make sure our roads are as safe as they can possibly be.”

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has taken a comprehensive approach to reducing roadway fatalities by promoting strong traffic safety laws coupled with high-visibility enforcement and through rigorous vehicle safety programs and public awareness campaigns.

In 2009, Secretary LaHood launched a national anti-distracted driving campaign modeled on other successful NHTSA efforts to reduce fatalities, such as its Over the Limit Under Arrest and Click It Or Ticket campaigns to curb drunk driving and increase seat belt use. The U.S. DOT has launched a dedicated website, Distraction.gov, to provide the public with a comprehensive source of information on distracted driving. DOT has also hosted two national summits devoted to the issue, crafted sample legislation which states can use to adopt distracted driving laws, and initiated pilot law enforcement programs in Hartford, CT and Syracuse, NY.

NHTSA has also taken action to improve vehicle safety. The agency has urged automakers to swiftly and voluntarily report safety defects to keep the driving public safe. NHTSA has also encouraged the development and use of technologies to prevent crashes, such as electronic stability control, forward collision warning and lane departure warning systems. The agency also unveiled an updated 5-star rating system in 2010, which established more rigorous crash-test standards and began providing consumers with improved information about which cars perform best in collisions.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has also been encouraging the use of Safety Edge technology — which reduces drivers’ risk of running off the road by shaping pavement edge – on new road and highway projects. FHWA has also promoted the use of rumble strips and cable median barriers to separate opposing directions of traffic to reduce the incidence of crossover head-on collisions.

To view NHTSA’s latest statistical projections of traffic fatalities in 2010, including regional estimates, click here.

(But of course “one” death is too many…especially when its someone you care about. – Monica Zech)

Motorists – New Laws For 2011!

Monica Zech — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:01:17 +0000

Attention drivers – there are new laws for the New Year 2011 – click on the link below.

Motorists – New Laws In 2011

http://www.chp.ca.gov/pdf/media/10-40.pdf

CHP – ZERO Tolerance On Cell Phone Use Behind The Wheel!

Monica Zech — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 04:59:33 +0000

San Diego County Law Enforcement Agencies announce “Zero Tolerance” for Motorists not using Hands-Free Devices

While today’s world enjoys the benefits of an ever increasing pool of technological devices, these benefits come at a price. Due to the increase in the number of traffic collisions caused by drivers illegally using cell phones, San Diego County Law Enforcement agencies are joining forces on November 17, 2010 to focus enforcement efforts on this menace to the safety of the motoring public. The San Diego, Oceanside, and El Cajon Offices of the California Highway Patrol, Carlsbad Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department, Coronado Police Department, El Cajon Police Department, Escondido Police Department, National City Police Department, Oceanside Police Department, San Diego Police Department, San Diego Sheriff’s Department, and San Diego State University Police Departments will be aggressively seeking out drivers violating the “hands free” cell phone law.

Cell phone use has become so popular these days that many times we don’t realize when, where, and how often we are using our cellular telephones. According to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), in 2008 there were more than 30,000 parties in California involved in traffic collisions where inattention played a role. More than 1,000 of those drivers identified a cell phone as the inattention. Cell phones are the number one identifiable inattention stated on collision reports.

Driving is a skill that requires your full attention to safely control your vehicle and respond to events happening on the roads around you. According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute distracted driving is “anything that diverts the driver’s attention away from the primary tasks of navigating a vehicle and responding to critical events.” Although NHTSA has indicated that cell phones are the most familiar form of distraction, applying make-up, using a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS), eating, drinking, changing CD’s, adjusting the radio and reading are numerous activities that can distract a driver.

Law enforcement agencies are already working together to share knowledge and promote a greater understanding of the issue, and identify additional strategies to end distracted driving. Distracted driving is a serious, life-threatening practice and we will not rest until we stop it.

The message is simple – There is no phone call worth a human life.

- Pay attention or pay the price

- Don’t let distractions take away from your reaction

A Press Conference will be held on Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at 10:30 am at the California Highway Patrol – Border Division Office (9330 Farnham Street, San Diego 92123). All participating agencies will be present and the collected statistics will be released to the media at that time.

Drowsy Driving Is A Deadly Problem

Monica Zech — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:19:16 +0000

Two Out of Five Drivers Admit to Falling Asleep at the Wheel, Finds AAA Foundation Study

Drowsy Drivers A Factor In Nearly 17% of Fatal Crashes

Washington, D.C. ・ Two out of every five drivers (41 percent) admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel at some point, with one in ten saying they・ve done so in the past year, according to a new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study. More than a quarter of those surveyed admitted they drove despite being so tired that they had difficulty keeping their eyes open in the previous month.

Eighty-five percent of drivers surveyed felt it was ―completely unacceptable‖for someone to drive if they are so tired they are having trouble keeping their eyes open. Unfortunately, drivers may not always be aware of the effects of fatigue resulting from a lack of sleep. In recognition of this week・s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week® hosted by the National Sleep Foundation, AAA wants all drivers to recognize the seriousness of this dangerous, yet underestimated, driving practice.

―When you are behind the wheel of a car, being sleepy is very dangerous. Sleepiness decreases awareness, slows reaction time, and impairs judgment, just like drugs or alcohol, contributing to the possibility of a crash,‖said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. ―We need to change the culture so that not only will drivers recognize the dangers of driving while drowsy but will stop doing it.‖

A new analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash data estimates that about one in six (16.5 percent) deadly crashes, one in eight crashes resulting in occupant hospitalization and one in fourteen crashes in which a vehicle was towed involve a driver who is drowsy. These percentages are substantially higher than most previous estimates, suggesting that the contribution of drowsy driving to motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and deaths has not been fully appreciated.

“Many of us tend to underestimate the negative effects associated with fatigue and sleep deprivation and, conversely, overestimate our abilities to overcome them while driving,” said Kathleen Marvaso, vice president, AAA Public Affairs. “This data underscores the importance of educating drivers on the simple, yet effective steps they can take to prevent a possible tragedy. Unfortunately, too many drivers have adopted the ‘I’m tired, but I can make it・ mentality, often to their own peril or to the peril of others.”

David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation, added, ―It is shocking to consider that one quarter of drivers admit to operating a vehicle in the last month in an incapacitated state.‖The National Sleep Foundation has been championing better drowsy driving awareness and education since 1991. Cloud adds, ―We applaud AAA・s work to elevate this issue for public scrutiny and action.

Take the test: http://www.aaafoundation.org/quizzes/index.cfm?button=drowsyquiz

Distracted Driving – A Deadly Problem – Take The Pledge!

Monica Zech — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:25:05 +0000

Yes – “distracted driving” is a nation-wide problem! It injures and kills motorists and pedestrians every day!!!

I talk about distracted driving in my driving safety lectures, but I’ve also been the victim of distracted drivers (3) times in my driving career. First, I was hit by someone who flew into a parking where I was, while he was looking down at paperwork and talking on a cell phone – I was able to hit the gas and clear my drivers’ side to avoid certain death. Second, I was on a freeway - when a driver was busy looking to his right talking to his passenger and failed to notice stopped traffic ahead, he rear-ended traffic while jumping in front of me. The third, and hopefully the last, a motorist ran a STOP sign by “two” car lengths coming off a freeway to a surface street, she was in a hurry and busy talking to her young daughter, she looked to her right and “failed” to look to her left as I approached from her left side with the “right of way” – jumping into my path…”that” crash almost paralyzed me. I’ve got the scar from my $65-thousand neck surgery as lasting proof… so “yes” I know this problem all too well. (By the way my alertness and seat-belt saved me in all three incidents.) But sadly, I also respond to these incidents almost daily as a spokesperson for a police and fire department!

Please take a look at the following two websites, the second is Oprah’s “NO PHONE ZONE” campaign – please take the pledge, and have your family, friends, school, workplace, and civic groups “take the pledge!” It is a matter of Life and Death!

www.distraction.gov

Take the pledge:

http://www.oprah.com/questionaire/ipledge.html?id=4

Thank you and stay safe!

Monica Zech

Safe Driving Educator

monicazech@cox.net