President's Message


Tony DeNovellis
President and CEO

Tackling distracted driving

Two seconds. That’s how long it takes for crash risk to double if a driver looks away from the road for any reason.

Nearly two out of three motorists readily admit to driving while distracted. In spring 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) reorganized all its distracted driving projects into one comprehensive, multi-year strategy that includes outreach to commercial drivers and rail operators as well as the general public. It even launched a website on the issue: www.distraction.gov. On Sept. 21, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will host a two-day Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, D.C., to explore more solutions.

Ongoing research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has shown that while an overwhelming percentage of motorists recognize the hazards of distracted driving, they still continue to engage in these behaviors. What is needed is a change in people’s attitudes toward safe driving. LaHood says he senses the beginning of a long-term process, seen before in other areas of traffic safety. “This is the same place where people were ... when people started talking about wearing seatbelts. You heard all the excuses, but with good enforcement, good public service, a real drum beat about it, now 85% of drivers use their seatbelts,” he said.

Another analogy is how public attitudes toward alcohol-impaired driving have changed. “When I was growing up, people turned a blind eye to drunk driving,” LaHood said. “None of that happens anymore.”

Cultural and individual behavioral change is a gradual process, so the issue will require a long-term approach.

AAA has developed driver education resources that are available free of charge to driving instructors nationwide. AAA also has a series of free instructional online videos showing how to avoid distraction while driving, available at www.monkeysee.com/AAA.

“We won’t be all the way there, but I think as a result of what AAA is doing, as a result of what a lot of people are doing, awareness will be raised and people will realize they can’t drive safely while using a cell phone or texting,” LaHood predicted.

AAA looks forward to continuing its key legislative and outreach efforts on this important traffic safety issue over the next five years as part of the association’s larger commitment to improving highway safety for all road users.

“If we can educate and enlighten people, we’re going to make progress,” LaHood said. “What AAA does helps us make progress.”

Tony DeNovellis
President and CEO

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