Bill OBoyle: No time to be distracted when behind the wheel
May 8—The campaign to increase awareness of the dangers of distracted driving is heating up.
The Wolf Administration this week reminded drivers that putting down their cellphones and focusing on the road can help save lives.
Pennsylvania Insurance Department Acting Commissioner Michael Humphreys, Department of Transportation Acting Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration Mike Keiser and Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Adam Reed this week urged Pennsylvanians to enable the setting on their cellphones that silence text and email notifications while driving, to help reduce crashes caused by distracted driving.
Statistics show highway deaths, including pedestrian fatalities and insurance rates have risen consistently since smart phones were introduced to the market.
"Distracted driving is a serious safety hazard and Pennsylvanians should consider that distractions extend beyond just texting and driving," said Humphreys. "Everything, from changing the radio station to eating, that causes a driver to take their attention and eyes away from the road or their hands off the wheel is a distraction."
In Pennsylvania, the Texting-While-Driving Ban prohibits as a primary offense any driver using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device to send, read or write a text-based communication while the vehicle is in motion.
In a study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, researchers found drivers can experience a "hangover effect" where the mind stays distracted for up to 27 seconds after using smartphones to send text messages, make phone calls or update social media.
"No driving distraction — whether texting or other operator activity — is ever worth the loss of life on the roadway," said Vice President of AAA Insurance John Kubeika. "These senseless deaths can easily be prevented if drivers simply choose to focus on the core task of driving when behind the wheel."
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2019 distracted driving crashes killed 3,142 people in the U.S. — an average of nine deaths per day.
That number was up 10 percent from the year before (2,839 deaths in 2018).
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's 2019 Traffic Safety Culture Index revealed distracted driving remains a growing traffic safety problem.
The survey found most drivers (96%) believe typing or reading on a hand-held cellphone while driving to be very or extremely dangerous, but 39% admit to reading and 29% admit to typing on a smartphone at least once while behind the wheel.
In Pennsylvania, there were 10,826 crashes involving a distracted driver in 2020, resulting in 47 fatalities and 296 suspected serious injuries.
PennDOT preliminary data shows fatalities in distracted driver crashes are up by approximately 25%, while suspected serious injuries in those crashes increased 17%.
"Distracted driving crashes and fatalities are on the rise in Pennsylvania," said PennDOT Acting Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration Mike Keiser. "The simple choice to avoid distractions while behind the wheel will help keep you, your passengers, and other motorists safe."
Commissioner Humphreys also noted that the average cost of an auto insurance policy in Pennsylvania has risen in recent years. In 2015, the combined average premium in Pennsylvania was $973.47.
In 2019, that average rose to $1,102.76.
How many reasons do we need to stop driving while distracted?
How many crash-related deaths will it take?
How many tragedies must their be before we all wake up?
How many tears must be shed?
How many families must be devastated?
How many futures will be lost?
We need more to be done — by legislators, by cellphone companies, by educators, by advocacy groups, but each of us.
We can't allow ourselves to be distracted from the importance of this issue — not for one second.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle, or email at boboyle@timesleader.com.
