SHA Urges Motoring Public to Exercise Personal Responsibility
(April 29, 2010) - That text message or call that “just can’t wait” could kill. To combat the growing distracted driving epidemic, Oprah Winfrey and Harpo Studios are launching a new campaign and joining forces with some of the country’s preeminent transportation safety organizations in a nationwide effort to make every car a “No Phone Zone.” The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration is proud to support and partner with Oprah Winfrey as she promotes the first National “No Phone Zone Day” on April 30.
“Through overhead highway message signs and public service announcements, the Maryland State Highway Administration is supporting this national effort and urging drivers to just drive - put cell phones down and keep both hands on the wheel,” said SHA and Governor’s Highway Safety Representative Neil J. Pedersen. “Texting or chatting while driving may appear to be a more innocent act than aggressive or drunk driving – but it can have equally deadly consequences.”
With the rapid growth of the cell phone, its use by motorists has contributed to a significant increase in distracted driving-related crashes in the United States. In 2008, nearly 6,000 people were killed and more than half a million were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A University of Utah study indicates that cell phone use while driving delays a driver’s reactions as much as a .08 blood alcohol concentration.
“We are here to remind motorists that despite how ubiquitous distracted driving has become, it still is not, nor has it ever been, acceptable to put yourself or other motorists at risk,” said Vernon Betkey, Chief of the State Highway Administration’s Safety Office. “Our support of Oprah’s No Phone Zone is to further emphasize the responsibility of motorists to drive safe and focused. Adhering to Maryland’s texting law and recently passed cell phone bill is an easy way to do just that.”
In Maryland, despite a decline in 2008, there were still more than 23,000 people involved in motor vehicle crashes as a result of distracted driving. In fact approximately 12,000 persons were injured in motor vehicle crashes because drivers were not paying attention or were engaged in other activities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 800,000 vehicles are being driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone at any given moment during daylight hours.
Oprah is promoting the No Phone Zone pledge, in which drivers agree to make their car a No Phone Zone and refrain from using their phone while driving, eliminating distractions from incoming calls, texts or e-mails. To date, more than 175,000 people have signed Oprah’s No Phone Zone pledge at Oprah.com. Many celebrities have already joined the cause, including Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White; Oscar winners Sandra Bullock, Jeff Bridges and Mo’Nique; the cast of TV’s Glee; comedian Jerry Seinfeld; actress and icon Raquel Welch; country music’s Lady Antebellum; entertainer and entrepreneur Tyler Perry; and many more.
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