Newsroom

• Distracted Driving is the New Drunk Driving

  A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that merely listening to somebody speak on the phone led to a 37% decrease in activity in the parietal lobe, where spatial tasks are processed, suggesting that hands-free use of mobile phones don't help. Such distractions make drivers more collision-prone than having a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent.

  The Economist, April 14, 2011

• Is the Focus on Distracted Driving Going Down the Wrong Road?

  NHTSA criticizes the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety after it argued that there is no evidence that distracted driving is leading to more crashes.

  USA Today, January 17, 2011

• Driving Drowsy as Bad as Driving Drunk

  NHTSA estimates that one in six crashes is caused by a drowsy driver and a new AAA survey showed that one in ten drivers reported falling asleep at the wheel in the last year.

  US News and World Report, November 8, 2010

• Tighter Cellphone Laws Might Face Static

  The Governors Highway Safety Association says they are likely to support a complete ban on cell phones once an effective strategy for enforcement is developed.

  The Washington Post, August 13, 2009

• Speed: What's the limit?

  Consumer Reports says speeding causes more than 1000 deaths per month; 33 states have speed limit 70 mph+, 3/4 of drivers admit to speeding previous month

  Consumer Reports, July 22, 2009

• U.S. Witheld Data on Risks of Distracted Driving

  In July, it was revealed that NHTSA withheld hundreds of pages of research on the dangers of using a cell phone (hand-held or hands-free) while driving. Part of the research reveals that driving while talking on a cell phone is just as dangerous as driving drunk. But, the safety administration buried the research to avoid angering members of Congress who didn?t want the cell phone issue in the limelight.

  Read the 266 pages of hidden research.

  New York Times, July 21, 2009

• Driven to Distraction: Drivers and Legislators Dismiss Cellphone Risks

  Multitasking drivers 4 times as likely to crash; Researcher blames electronic devices for stagnant fatality numbers.

  New York Times Cover Story, July 19, 2009

• Wake-up call: Drowsy Drivers are Serious Threat

  NHTSA estimates drowsy driving is a factor in more than 100,000 crashes, resulting in 1,550 deaths and 40,000 injuries annually.

  USA Today, April 1, 2009

• A Problem of the Brain, Not the Hands: Group Urges Phone Ban for Drivers

  National Safety Council calls for cellphone driving ban, equates phones with DWI

  New York Times, January 12, 2009

• The Mind-BlackBerry Problem: Hey, you! Cell-phone zombie! Get off the road!

  In a Nationwide Mutual Insurance survey, 45 percent of Americans said they've been hit or nearly hit by a driver on a cell phone.

  Slate, October 23, 2008

Google News

• Distracted driving crashes: Oddities from the police files - MLive.com

  Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:23:57 GMT

  MLive.com

  Distracted driving crashes: Oddities from the police files MLive.com By John Barnes | jbarnes1@mlive.com File photoNot all cellphone users involved in traffic cashes were distracted drivers. Sometimes preoccupied pedestrians walked into traffic. The state's traffic crash database has thousands of records on accidents ...

  
  



• Arizona distracted driving laws see red - InjuryBoard.com

  Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:56:45 GMT

  Arizona distracted driving laws see red InjuryBoard.com The lack of distracted driving laws contributed to Arizona's “red” rating from the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. The director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety said he was questioning the whole ranking and the whole report. The Torch: Distractions haunt teen driversmy.hsj.org all 3 news articles »

  
  



• Distracted drivers and cellphones are a dangerous mix, wreaking havoc on the roads - MLive.com

  Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:12:31 GMT

  MLive.com

  Distracted drivers and cellphones are a dangerous mix, wreaking havoc on the roads MLive.com More than 34000 others involved different forms of distracted driving. The numbers are part of an investigation by news organizations within the new MLive Media Group, which is launching today. Reporters across Michigan reviewed hundreds of accident ... Distracted drivers: Taking their toll on the roads (Coming Thursday)Kalamazoo Gazette - MLive.com OH Sh..! I'm Going to Crash!InjuryBoard.com all 6 news articles »

  
  



• Woodbury Teen Part Of Distracted-Driving Summit - Patch.com

  Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:33:59 GMT

  CBS Local

  Woodbury Teen Part Of Distracted-Driving Summit Patch.com The speakers at the event included law enforcement officials from three counties, as well as a man whose daughter was killed in a distracted driving accident in 2007. Greuenewald was one of four students who provided candid answers to questions about ... U of M Develops Online Distracted Driving SimulatorFOX 9 News Distracted driving video game to premiere at Teen Driving SummitKARE think u can text, drive? try thisMinneapolis Star Tribune Overclockers Club -CBS Local -HealthCanal.com all 34 news articles »

  
  



• Distracted Driving blog: A digest of our series on how drivers on cellphones ... - MLive.com

  Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:12:18 GMT

  MLive.com

  Distracted Driving blog: A digest of our series on how drivers on cellphones ... MLive.com By Meegan Holland | mholland@mlive.com Enlarge MLive.com Nine instances of distracted drivers causing auto accidents. In most cases cellphones were being used by the distracted driver. The Last Thing You See gallery (16 photos) This is a running digest ... More than 9000 Michigan crashes involved cellphones over past 10 yearsAnnArbor.com all 3 news articles »

  
  



• Fatal distracted driving accident haunts Muskegon Township man, devastates ... - Muskegon Chronicle - MLive.com

  Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:11:08 GMT

  Muskegon Chronicle - MLive.com

  Fatal distracted driving accident haunts Muskegon Township man, devastates ... Muskegon Chronicle - MLive.com His death due to distracted driving is part of a disturbing driving trend causing serious injury and death across the nation, authorities said. Michigan logged more than 34000 crashes involving some forms of distracted driving and 9000 ... and more »