DOT’s “DWD” Program Curbs Driver Behavior

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week reported reductions in distracted driving in Syracuse, N.Y., and Hartford, Conn., after two pilot projects measured the effect of increased law enforcement coupled with high-profile public education campaigns.

Long an issue with insurers across almost all lines of business, driving while distracted (DWD), which is classified in this instance as driving while using cell phones for talking or texting, has increased claims among all driving ages.

In 2009, nearly 5,500 fatalities and another half million injuries resulted from crashes involving a distracted driver. Overall, distraction-related fatalities represented 16% of total traffic fatalities in 2009.

"Allstate applauds U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for continuing to lead the charge on curbing distracted driving. The results of efforts in Hartford, Conn. and Syracuse, N.Y. reinforce what we have said all along – that ending dangerous driving behavior is a multi-phase process,” the company said in a statement.

Each program, which was supported by $200,000 in federal funds and $100,000 from the state, examined whether increased police enforcement along with paid advertising and news media coverage could reduce distracted driving. The pilot efforts used “Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the Other” as the media campaign theme and were structured similarly to the highly-successful national seat belt campaign, “Click It or Ticket.”

During four periods of stepped up enforcement over the past year, Syracuse police issued 9,587 citations for driver violations involving talking or texting on cell phones while operating a vehicle. During the same period, police in Hartford issued 9,658 tickets for illegal phone use.

Before and after each enforcement wave, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) actively observed cell phone use and conducted public awareness surveys at driver licensing offices in the two cities, which found:

In Syracuse because of high-visibility enforcement — both handheld cell phone use and texting behind the wheel have declined by one-third.

In Hartford, where researchers initially identified drivers talking on their cell phones at twice the frequency (which left more room for improvement), there was a 57% drop in handheld use and texting behind the wheel dropped by nearly three-quarters.

"To truly make a difference, we need to enact, enforce and educate the public about texting bans that can save lives. This three-step approach is a reliable formula for helping to create safer roads,” said Allstate.

NHTSA plans to test this same three-part formula — tough laws, strong enforcement, and ongoing public awareness — at the state-wide level next.

Nationwide, 34 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have enacted texting bans. Nine states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands have prohibited all hand-held cell phone use while driving.

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