US Squelched Data on Car Phone Danger

2010 least deadly year on American roads since 1949

(NEWSER) - Some 32,788 people died on American roads in 2010, the smallest number since Harry Truman was in the White House—and there were a lot fewer people on the roads back then. Last year saw the fewest traffic accident deaths since 1949, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration figures released today. Traffic deaths have dropped an amazing 25% in just five years, reports the New York Times . More»

Under rules, effective immediately, fines run as high as $2,750

(NEWSER) - Drivers of trucks and buses who text behind the wheel will be subject to thousands of dollars in fines, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today. The federal prohibition, which takes effect immediately, applies only to commercial vehicles. But distracted driving is one of LaHood's top issues, CNN reports. "This is an important safety step, and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving," he said. More»

Conference tells Transportation Department to get tough

(NEWSER) - If the Department of Transportation wants to curb distracted driving, it’ll have to do more than ask nicely, concluded experts at last week’s conference on the issue. Previous efforts to curb drunk driving and promote seat belt safety have proven that drivers don’t respond without the threat of punishment. “There’s no evidence whatever that responsible-driving campaigns work,” the director of MADD told the conference. More»

(NEWSER) - Accidents caused by distracted drivers killed at least 5,800 and injured another 515,000 last year, according to data pulled from police reports and presented today to Transportation Department conference on the issue. The actual figures may be significantly higher, say Transportation officials, since distraction is often hard to identify as a cause of a crash. Congress is considering laws that would limit what drivers can do behind the wheel, Reuters reports. More»

States send updates, but prohibit drivers from reading them

(NEWSER) - Safety experts complain that states are undermining their own no-texting-while-driving laws by offering motorists constant Twitter updates on traffic conditions, the AP reports. At least 22 states with laws that essentially ban drivers from using smartphones and similar devices behind the wheel provide such information, and, in some cases, readily pass on information texted in by drivers. More»