ARRIVE ALIVE

Many years ago the State of Florida instituted a campaign tied to the state's speed limits and it was called "Arrive Alive."

One of the busiest holiday weekends is almost upon us and now there are other categories to add the "Arrive Alive" philosophy.

It is not just speed and alcohol that kills when driving but cell phones. Talking and texting claims tens of thousands of lives each year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last year more than 34,000 people were killed on the highways in cell phone related accidents.

While no state currently bans the use of cell phones while driving many have enacted laws limiting their usage. Seven states now prohibit the use of handheld cell phones when driving and 26 others have outlawed text messaging for all drivers. Driving in Texas I have seen signs prohibiting the use of cell phones in school zones.

Reputable studies have reported the following:

• Distraction from cell phone use while driving (hand held or hands free) extends a drivers reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (University of Utah)
• The number one source of driver inattention is the use of a wireless device. (Virginia Tech/NHTSA)
• Drivers that use cell phones are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (NHTSA/Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Ten percent of drivers aged 16 to 24 years old are on their phone at any one time.
• Driving while distracted is a factor in 25 percent of police reported crashes.
• Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. (Carnegie Mellon)

Many countries have outright banned the use of cell phones, in any form, while driving. Among them are: Australia, China, France, Denmark, Japan, Russia and the United Kingdom. Either a total ban or the restricted use of cell phones while behind the wheel has been enacted in 52 countries.

This holiday weekend don't become a statistic. Use your cell phone smartly, off the road. If you must be on the phone, don't do it in traffic, pull into a safe place and stop.

ARRIVE ALIVE !