Facts about distracted driving
• More than eight people are killed and 1,161 are injured daily in incidents reported as distraction-affected crashes in the United States.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2015, there were 3,477 people killed and an estimated additional 391,000 people injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
• At any given daylight moment across America, about 660,000 drivers are using cellphones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010.
• In 2015, the National Occupant Protection Use Survey reported that handheld cell phone use continued to be highest among 16- to 24-year-old drivers.
For more information and statistics about wireless devices and driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving.
Source: The Federal Communications Commission
Despite the emergence of more campaigns to raise awareness about distracted driving, and prevent and end this practice, law enforcement officials say the majority of motorists are still driving while distracted.
In fact, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Frank Leonbruno said when he was driving to work one day in an unmarked car, nearly every person who drove past him was talking on the phone.
“After several years of trying to fight texting and driving, we are not seeing any evidence that it is working,” Leonbruno said. “We are definitely seeing an increase. I would say about 70 percent of people drive distracted. They are becoming more and more dependent to their cellphones.”
He said it is a real danger.
“To me, it’s a true addiction, no different than an alcohol or drug addiction,” he said. “It’s a major cause of accidents — 23,000 people are dying in automobile accidents and half of them are from distracted driving.”
In a study, 60 percent of college students admit they may be addicted to their cellphone and some indicated they get agitated when it is not in sight, said James Roberts, who is a researcher and professor at Baylor University.
“As cellphone functions increase, addictions to this seemingly indispensable piece of technology become an increasingly realistic possibility,” Roberts said.
Leonbruno said people just are unable to separate themselves from their phones. However, he shares an interesting proposal.
“What if we told you that there was a switch you could turn on in your car, and once you turned it on it would save you and your passengers from being in 60 percent of the accidents we see today? When you get in your car, flip the switch and turn off your cell phone, your car phone and other electronic devices that you have as a driver. Save yourself and the ones you love today — just flick the switch,” he said in an article on the website.
He said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will continue to educate the public about the dangers and results of distracted diving, but “ultimately it is a personal responsibility.”
In 2017, there were 51 fatal Ohio traffic crashes involving driver distraction, compared with 26 fatal crashes in 2016, according to provisional data from the Ohio Highway Patrol.
OHP also reports that texting and other electronic violations are on the rise.
Enforcement
Ohio Highway Patrol Chardon Post Commander Lt. Charles Gullett said discouraging distracted driving is challenging because it does not always involve cellphones.
“It could be someone changing the radio station or looking at GPS,” he said.
In a recent crash involving a semi truck crashing into another vehicle, the truck driver admitted to reaching down into a cup holder looking for something and taking his eyes off the road, Gullett said.
“Taking your eyes off the road for even a short period of time causes accidents,” he said.
Distracted drivers often commit other traffic violations that lead to them getting pulled over.
Gullett described it as the “symptoms” of distracted driving, which includes following too closely, driving left to center, speeding and driving below the speed limit.
Drivers also can be cited for distracted driving, according to current Ohio laws that ban texting and driving for all drivers, while drivers with temporary licenses who are younger than 18 are prohibited from all cellphone use.
Education
In conjunction with National Distracted Driving Month in April, there will be many local efforts to prevent distracted driving.
Safe Communities Coalition Coordinator Haley Russo said she will be distributing a lot of educational materials to different members of the community, including law enforcement and school resource officers.
The overall goal of the Lake County Safe Communities Coalition is to reduce the number of traffic-related motor vehicle deaths in Lake County, according to its website. The coalition will conduct campaigns and events to create awareness actives that will promote traffic safety.
“Distracted driving is a public health issue that affects us all,” The National Safety Council said. “The latest statistics show motor vehicle fatalities are up 6 percent from 2015. More than 40,000 people were killed on our nation’s roadways last year, and distracted driving is a major contributor. Just one second of your attention is all takes to change a life forever.”
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