[RVRC] Another move on mobile 'driving distractions'

[Marvin Bronstein]

>From "Amateur Radio Newsline"........


COMMUNICATIONS LAW: NEW GROUP FORMED TO FIGHT DISTRACTED DRIVING 

A new group with government support is targeting all forms of distractions while driving. And while amateur radio is not yet in its gun-sights, hams will want to keep a close eye on this one as we hear from Frank Haas, KB4T, has the details: 

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has teamed up with the National Safety Council for form a new organization to end distracted driving. This through the creation of a new organization called FocusDriven which is the first nonprofit organization devoted to combating distracted driving and supporting victims of distracted drivers. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines distracted driving as any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing. It notes that there are three major types of driving distraction that incude visual, manual and cognitive. In simple terms this means any activity that causes a driver to take one's eyes off the road, ones hands off the steering wheel, or one's mind off of driving. 

While distracted driving has always been a safety issue. Now, with the advent of mobile communication devices and other mobile technologies, it has become what the FocusDriven calls a growing epidemic. The group considers cell phone texting the most alarming of newer distractions, because it involves all three types of distraction. Other forms of distracted driving includes driving while using a cell phone, changing a radio station, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, using a CD or Mp3 player, watching a video or reading, or using a PDA or navigation system or other portable electronic devices. 

So far, a ban against texting while driving has been enacted in 19 states plus Washington D.C. and Guam. Six states plus Washington D.C. and the Virgin Islands have banned the use of all hand-held devices for any reason while driving. Most but not all do have exclusions for users of two-way business communications and some have extended that exclusion to amateur radio. 

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Frank Haas, KB4T, in Holly Hill, Florida. 

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The new FocusDriven organization is said to be modeled after the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving. More is on-line at www dot focusdriven dot org. (FocusDriven, various news reports)