ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- The U.S. Department of Transportation is determined to stop texting and cell phone use behind the wheel.
Since 2009, the DOT has held two national distracted driving summits, banned texting and cell phone use for commercial drivers, encouraged states to adopt tough laws and launched numerous campaigns to raise the public's general awareness on the issue and how dangerous it can be.
Last year, the U.S. DOT launched its National Distracted Driving Enforcement and Advertising Campaign.
Thousands of law enforcement personnel took part in the event. Nationwide, officers were out in force, using both traditional and innovative strategies to crack down on motor vehicle operators who chose to use their cell phone while driving.
What's the law?
In 2010, Army Regulation 385-10 was implemented. This governs the use of electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle.
Since that time, 111 citations related to the use of electronic devices have been issues to drivers on Anniston Army Depot.
Currently, 43 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban text messaging for drivers of all ages.
Twelve states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit drivers of all ages from using hand-held cell phones while driving.
Thirty-seven states and Washington D.C. ban cell phone use by novice drivers.
In Alabama, drivers are banned from sending, receiving or composing text messages while driving. That law has been in effect since Aug. 1, 2012. Here on Anniston Army Depot, cell phone use is prohibited while driving any motorized vehicle.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving includes more than cell phone use.
Distracted driving can be having too many people in the car and eating or drinking.
The dangers of texting and driving, however, are on the rise.
Text messaging, according to NHTSA, makes a crash up to 23 times more likely, dialing a cell phone 2.8 times, talking or listening on a phone 1.3 times and even reaching for a device increases a driver's risk of having an accident 1.4 times more likely.
Are hands-free devices safer?
According to the National Safety Council, 80 percent of American drivers believe hands-free devices are safer than using a handheld phone.
That is not the case.
The NSC cites more than 30 studies which show hands-free devices are not any safer because the brain is still distracted by the conversation.
As vehicle operators, we need to pay attention to the road and our surroundings. When we talk on or are otherwise distracted by a cell phone, we can miss seeing up to half of what's around us.
That includes traffic lights, other cars, stop signs and pedestrians.
Talking on the phone is just not worth it. Lives are needlessly lost every day because drivers choose to use the phone.
Remember -- One text or call could wreck it all. It may sound extreme, but calls can kill. Hands-free is not risk-free.
Learn more at nsc.org/cellfree.
Sources: www.dot.gov and www.nhtsa.gov
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