U.S. Transportation Secretary Lahood Announces $1.5 Million For California Anti-Distraction Pilot Project

U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Public Affairs 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 www.dot.gov/briefing-room.
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DOT 64-12CA Thursday, June 7, 2012 Contact: Karen Aldana Phone: (202) 366-9550
Local Contact: Chris Cochran Office of Traffic Safety (916) 509-3063
U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces $1.5 Million for California Anti-Distraction Pilot Project Funding announcement accompanies comprehensive Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving issued nationwide SACRAMENTO, Calif. As part of his Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving initiative, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that California will receive about $1.5 million in federal support to expand the Departments Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the Other pilot enforcement campaign to reduce distracted driving. Distracted driving is an epidemic. While weve made progress in the past three years by raising awareness about this risky behavior, the simple fact is people are continuing to be killed and injured and we can put an end to it, said U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood. Personal responsibility for putting down that cell phone is a good first step but we need everyone to do their part, whether its helping pass strong laws, educating our youngest and most vulnerable drivers, or starting their own campaign to end distracted driving. DOT is providing California with about $1.5 million in federal support for a pilot program that will examine whether increased police enforcement coupled with paid media and news media coverage can significantly reduce distracted driving over a widespread area. The California program will be conducted in the Sacramento valley region comprising eight counties and 3.8 million residents and is expected to be under way in fall 2012. We are honored that the U.S. Department of Transportation has recognized how the people of California can play such a significant role in this new fight against distracted driving and cell phone use, said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. Our goal now is to use this opportunity to begin to turn the tide of distracted driving tragedies, not just here, but across the country. In addition to California, Delaware has also been selected to receive federal support for Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the Other pilot projects. The multi-market efforts in
these states mirror the approach used in smaller-scale demonstration projects completed in 2011 in Hartford, CT, and Syracuse, NY. The 2011 pilot projects found dramatic declines in distracted driving in the two communities tested with texting dropping 72 percent in Hartford and 32 percent in Syracuse. We know from the success of national efforts like Click It or Ticket that combining good laws with effective enforcement and a strong public education campaign can and does change unsafe driving behavior said National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland. Now, along with two great state partners, were using this proven formula to help tackle distracted driving. Applying a Blueprint to End Distracted Driving Nationally Coinciding with the announcement of the federal support, Secretary LaHood released a Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving, a comprehensive strategy to address the growing and dangerous practice of using handheld cell phones behind the wheel. The plan outlines concrete steps stakeholders around the country from lawmakers and safety organizations to families and younger drivers can take to reduce the risk posed by distracted driving The Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving outlines a plan that builds on the national momentum that Secretary LaHood and USDOT have spearheaded for the last three years. Recognizing the extent and complexity of the problem, the plan: Encourages the remaining 11 states without distracted driving laws to enact and enforce this critical legislation. Challenges the auto industry to adopt new and future guidelines for technology to reduce the potential for distraction on devices built or brought into vehicles. Partners with driver education professionals to incorporate new curriculum materials to educate novice drivers of driver distraction and its consequences. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show drivers under the age of 25 are two to three times more likely than older drivers to send text messages or emails while driving. Provides all stakeholders with actions they can take that go beyond personal responsibility to helping end distracted driving nationwide.
In 2010, at least 3,092 people were killed in distraction-affected crashes accounting for approximately one in every ten fatalities on the nations roadways. Meanwhile, among the findings from NHTSAs first nationally-representative telephone survey on driver distraction released earlier this year, more than three-quarters of drivers reported that they are willing to answer calls on all, most, or some trips. Survey respondents acknowledged few driving situations when they would not use the phone or text, and yet reported feeling unsafe when riding in vehicles in which the driver is texting and supported bans on texting and cell phone use. Almost all respondents (about 90% overall) reported that they considered a driver who was sending or reading text messages or e-mails as very unsafe. Nationwide, 39 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam ban texting behind the wheel. Ten states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam prohibit all hand-held cell phone use while driving.
Download the Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving. Click here to see the NHTSA report on the enforcement programs in Syracuse and Hartford. Click here for the latest fatalities data available on FARS and here to view the agencys telephone survey on distracted driving attitudes and behaviors. To learn more about NHTSAs efforts on distracted driving visit www.distraction.gov. ###

U.S. Transportation Secretary Lahood Announces $1.5 Million For California Anti-Distraction Pilot Project

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U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Public Affairs 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 www.dot.gov/briefing-room.

Local Contact: Chris Cochran Office of Traffic Safety (916) 509-3063

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