Sep 30, 2009 7:32 pm US/Eastern
Schumer Wants Nationwide Ban On Texting & Driving
515,000 Injured, Nearly 6,000 Killed In 2008 From Driving While Distracted
WASHINGTON (CBS) ―
Nearly 6,000 people were killed and another half million injured in 2008, officials say, as a result of driving while distracted. In fact, so many people are being killed and injured because drivers are using mobile devices, the government is holding a summit in Washington D.C. to come up with ways to stop it.
It's already illegal in England, where a graphic public service announcement airs and has become a viral Internet video sensation. In fact, a British study says it's more dangerous than drinking and driving.
Look anywhere while in traffic, and you'll see people disregarding common sense.
"I don't know how people can [text and drive]," says Manhattan resident Brenda Vemich. "I have to sit down to text, I can't even walk and text. So to drive and text?"
Adds Forest Hills resident Kenneth Skrastins: "You can't do two things at once when you're driving, so you better just pay attention to your driving."
But millions don't. Overall, text messages have exploded from 10 billion in 2005 to 110 billion in 2008, and with all the time Americans spend in their cars, too many drivers are putting their hands at 10 and text, instead of 10 and 2.
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute did a study this summer on the dangers of texting or using a cell phone while driving. They found that you are six times more likely to be involved in an accident if you do so. The study found it's even worse when it's a truck driver using a mobile device. They're 23 times more likely to crash if talking on a cell or texting. Many of the crashes that involve large trucks were caused by the driver being distracted.
In Washington on Wednesday, victims and family members appealed to members of Congress to pass greater restrictions on mobile device use while driving.
"We've introduced legislation that would nationally ban texting while driving, and tell every state unless they pass the ban, they're going to lose some of their federal highway funds," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). "It's based on the anti-drunk driving laws which have been hugely successful."
New Jersey and 17 other states already have laws against texting while driving. The wireless phone industry is urging its users to not text or email while driving, but does not want a complete ban on all cell phone use by drivers.
As you might expect, young people are most likely to text while driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, 16 percent of drivers under the age of 20 who were involved in a fatal crash were texting at the time.
According to a CBS News/New York Times poll released Sunday, a whopping 90 percent of Americans think punching out text messages while behind the wheel should be outlawed, compared with just 8 percent who think it's okay.
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