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Distracted Drivers Killed 5,800 in '08

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 30, 2009 12:49 PM CDT
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(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.

A ban on text-messaging has widespread support, but a cell phone ban is more controversial. While overall accidents fell last year, distracted driving was a growing cause, implicated in 16% of cases, up from 11% in 2004. Roughly 6% of drivers used their phones while driving in 2007, and another 1% texted on some other device.

Police examine a tow truck that drove into a swimming pool in Lockport, NY. Police said the driver was texting on one cell phone and talking on another when he hit a car and crashed into the pool.
Police examine a tow truck that drove into a swimming pool in Lockport, NY. Police said the driver was texting on one cell phone and talking on another when he hit a car and crashed into the pool.   (AP Photo/Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, Stephen Wallace)
An unidentified man talks on his cell phone as he drives in Lawrenceville, N.J. in this June 24, 2004 file photo.
An unidentified man talks on his cell phone as he drives in Lawrenceville, N.J. in this June 24, 2004 file photo.   (AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer, File)
A man talks on his cell phone while driving in Los Angeles, Monday June 30, 2008.
A man talks on his cell phone while driving in Los Angeles, Monday June 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
A bill board that encourages people not to text while they drive is shown in the northside of Indianapolis, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009.
A bill board that encourages people not to text while they drive is shown in the northside of Indianapolis, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009.   (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 16 comments
zackmasson
Oct 2, 2009 7:05 AM CDT
I've learned to NEVER park next to a handicap space. These people can NOT DRIVE to save their life. Try it out it you don't mind your car having many dents all over it. It's a sad day when you can't drive effectively anymore but they NEED to be put in their place; you simply can't drive safely anymore once you get a certain age.
zackmasson
Oct 2, 2009 7:00 AM CDT
my friend drives while on his iphone, shit scares me. Makes me so uneasy when people are totally cool with searching the internet and texting and all that at the same time while "driving" it's only a matter of time till they don't have enough time to react and end up causing a crash. Fucking pathetic. Needs to be highly enforced.
Timinator2K
Oct 1, 2009 1:53 AM CDT
Reader64481089, don't call on a mega-texting/cell disaster! These dumbshitts are killer deadly enough as it is.
US

 
cell phones • car accident • texting • Department of Transportation • driver distraction

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