End Distracted Driving

Boosted Efforts by New Safety Coalition Aim to End Distracted Driving

October 5, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

A new national coalition will now focus on lowering the number of distracted driving-related accidents throughout the country more strongly than ever.

Various safety organizations launched the National Distracted Driving Coalition as a clearinghouse for state and local safety groups, an effort that will work to progress new legislation related to distracted driving behaviors and boost collaborative efforts that aim to raise awareness into these kinds of risky driving practices.

“Distracted driving kills thousands in the U.S. every year,” said the National Transportation Safety Board last month in a tweet. “During the National Distracted Driving Coalition launch, Vice Chairman [Bruce] Landsberg urged the public, community leaders, and industry to get engaged and involved in the fight to end distracted driving.”

The coalition of more than 100 members will work toward improved enforcement, data collection, and public education as a method of increasing safe driving behaviors.

“Every few hours, a life is lost on the nation’s highways due to distracted driving,” said Landsberg. “In no other mode of transportation would we accept the kind of carnage that we have on our highways.”

Along with NTSB, other main committee groups include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, American Trucking Associations, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Governors Highway Safety Association, and the Insurance Institution for Highway Safety.

“We know that ensuring safe driving behavior is key in improving highway safety, and perhaps no action would do more for the cause of safety than reducing distractions for drivers,” said President of ATA, Chris Spear. “America’s truckers see motorists on their phones while driving countless times a day, and if a driver is focused on a text or call, we know they aren’t focused on driving safely.”

ATA also noted the vitality of accurate data in order to properly measure the extent of distracted driving behavior issues. The group also shared that it would prioritize the preparation of legislative briefs to help move along new related bill measures.

“Distracted driving kills thousands and injures hundreds of thousands in the United States every year,” NTSB’s Landsberg added. “States are making some progress addressing this public health problem, but no state has implemented NTSB recommendations calling for a ban on the use of all personal electronic devices while driving except in [the] case of emergency.”

Distracted driving initiatives should also be approached with the same vigor as initiatives working to bring an end to driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, noted Drive Smart Virginia’s executive director, Janet Brooking.

“When we fund impaired driving programs, we should also be funding distracted driving programs,” she said. “When we make strong impaired driving laws with great ease, we should also be able to advance distracted driving legislation.”

StopDistractions.org CEO Jennifer Smith agreed, noting that distracted driving tends to be overlooked when analyzing driver behavior-related accidents.

“When we talk about the rising number of crashes, we hear about speeding, seat belts, and impaired driving,” she said. “But distracted driving is not mentioned. Have we given up? Is it too hard? Is it inconvenient? Why are we not doing as much as were back a decade ago?”

In regards to studies that have been conducted regarding distracted driving, driver inattention is typically directly related to a higher risk of crashing–especially with events that cause a driver to do something physically in the vehicle while looking away from the road, explain Virginia Tech Transportation Institute research scientist, Charlie Klauer.

“We are very proud to be a part of this coalition to assist in this very multi-pronged approach to reduce fatalities and injuries on our roadways that are due to distracted driving,” Klauer said.

Committee member Representative John Carson of Georgia helped pass a cellphone bill in 2018 that called for hands-free phone usage only for a driver in a moving vehicle, and has been working with legislators in many other states to urge them to do the same.

“In addition to state law, what we want to do is change the culture,” explained Carson. “Years ago, driving while intoxicated by alcohol was not as socially taboo as it is today. That’s where we want to get to with regard to distracted driving.”

Safety Tips for Chicago Bicyclists

June 7, 2019 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Chicago’s mostly cold. Cold weather makes for hardy people who drink black coffee, eat pizza that’s really a casserole, and put hot peppers on everything. People from Illinois also know how to navigate in the snow without a dogsled. And, they don’t lose their cool when the roads are slippery, even when riding a bicycle.

Chicago is a city that has a lot of people riding around on bicycles in all types of weather conditions, even those few weeks and months when the sun comes out of hiding. Bicycling is so popular here that Divvy, Chicago’s bicycle share program, is set to expand its coverage over the entire City by 2021. Currently, there is no service on the West Side, the Far South Side, or the Far Northwest Side.

With even more people riding around on bikes than ever before, making sure everybody gets to their destination safely is, or at least should be everybody’s number one priority when it comes to transportation.

There is no such thing as an accident

The word accident implies that the unfortunate or terrible thing that happened was unavoidable. A car crash is almost never an accident because a car crash is often times avoidable. Crashes occur when someone makes a poor choice. People drive drunk. They look at their phones while driving. They get behind the wheel when they haven’t had enough sleep and drive fatigued. Choices like these can lead to grave consequences especially when a car hits a bicycle.

The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that 783 cyclists were killed in traffic crashes nationwide in 2017. There are steps that drivers and cyclists can take to decrease that number, if not eliminate bicycle traffic deaths altogether.

Know the statistics

The U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations maintains statistics on traffic deathseach year.

Regardless of what time of year it is, the highest percentage of bicycle deaths happen between the hours of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Over 70% of cyclist fatalities occur in urban as opposed to rural areas.
Alcohol use was reported in 35% of fatal crashes involving bicycles.

Get to know the rules of the road

Cyclists in Illinois are required to follow the same traffic rulesthat apply to motorists. This also means that bike riders generally have the same rights as drivers do. Drivers need to give cyclists enough space to travel safely. The Chicago Municipal Code prohibits cars from driving, standing, or parking in a bike lane. Cyclists should generally keep as far to the right as is practically possible, with a few exceptions. Both bike riders and drivers should remember that they have to share the road and that keeping a proper lookout for other travelers is paramount.

Don’t get distracted

Distracted driving is a big problem. This applies to people riding bikes as well. Not only that, but walking around in Chicago, you’re bound to see pedestrians looking down at their phones, too. Standing on the side walk and looking at your phone may be excusable, if not annoying to some, but propelling any form of transportation forward on city streets requires a person’s undivided attention.

We’ve all heard that texting and driving can kill. According to U.S. Government statistics, 1 in 10 fatal crashes involve people who were distracted while driving; an entirely preventable statistic. There is no excuse for pulling your phone out if you’re driving or if you’re riding a bike. Just pull over. Even the most important phone call can wait when it’s a matter of life or death.

If in doubt, learn to ride

The Chicago Department of Transportationand Divvy are offering free bicycle riding classeswith limited spots this summer. The classes are meant to help adults who never learned to ride a bike or haven’t ridden in a long time to ride with confidence and to feel comfortable riding on Chicago’s city streets. Space for these classes is limited. Classes may be open to children based on availability. Divvy will provide bikes to participants over the age of 16 because the program doesn’t allow kids under 16 to use its bikes. Participants under age 16 will have to provide their own bikes.

Non-Profit Spotlight: Joel Feldman talks End Distracted Driving

August 15, 2016 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Joel Feldman isn’t bothered when people ask about his daughter Casey, who was killed by a distracted driver in 2009. What bothers him is when people confuse safe driving for lucky driving. For Feldman, that distinction goes a long way toward explaining why many drivers feel they can get away with things like texting on the phone while sitting behind the wheel of a car—a task that seems innocuous in today’s digital-crazed world.

But the facts tell a different story: Over 3,331 people were killed and over 387,000 injured in motor vehicle accidents connected to distracted driving, according to the NHTSA, and the National Safety Council says that at least 28 percent of vehicle crashes are caused by texting and cell phone use alone.

Those are just some of the things Feldman discusses with students across the country as founder and lead advocate for End Distracted Driving, formed seven years ago. The organization has since put together a substantial list of volunteers that speak on behalf of EDD to raise awareness related to dangerous trends.

Feldman spoke with us by phone to talk about his organization’s work, keeping Casey’s memory alive, and what’s in store for the future of EDD.

What is End Distracted Driving and what’s your mission?

We established EndDistractedDriving.org after my daughter Casey was killed by a distracted driver in 2009. After she was killed, I realized that I was driving distracted all the time. I’m a lawyer. I represent families who have lost loved ones to distracted driving. I should’ve known better. So it made me think about the way I was driving. I was asked to speak with folks about distracted driving and one thing led to another. I started doing more talks and then I said, “Gosh, I wonder if I’m really changing people’s attitudes and behaviors.”

It’s okay talking to people and telling them the story of Casey. I like to do that to keep her memory alive. But it certainly wouldn’t have the same level of meaning if I couldn’t affect other people’s behaviors. I looked for a distracted driving presentation that was scientifically based, that had been tested. Couldn’t find one. I went to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and they helped us develop a science-based distracted driving presentation. I would evaluate and update it so we were doing the best in terms of helping people decide for themselves, “Hey, I’m not the safest driver. Let me make some changes.”

It’s definitely about empowering people. It’s not confrontational. It’s not bloody or graphic. We figure out ways to reach different people, whether that’s middle school kids bugging mom and dad not to drive distracted, or if it’s teen drivers talking about how they can influence their moms and dads to drive safer, and, of course parents. Ask any group of parents if they would do anything to keep their children safe and they all raise their hand. Ask them to keep their hands up if they never drive distracted and all hands go down. You can create these moments where people have a little bit of discomfort, and it’s one of the things we do in our presentations to connect with people and have them decide whether there’s some adjustments they can do to be safe.

The situation with Casey is devastating. There’s no way to get over something like that, but have you found purpose in what you’re doing?

It was just the seventh anniversary of Casey’s death and it’s always a time for reflection. People will tell you, “Casey’s smiling down upon you, Casey would be so proud…” I hope so. I have found greater meaning. I love talking to kids, whether it’s middle school, high school, or college. I think they’re wonderful to work with and they’re open to new ideas. I’m optimistic. There are some in traffic safety who are not optimistic about changing our culture, but I’m optimistic that we’re going to change the way we think about driving. Just like drunk driving, distracted driving is no longer socially acceptable.

I’m kind of meant for this; I’m a personal injury attorney who’s represented families who’ve lost loved ones. I’ve represented people who were in distracted driving crashes. The year before Casey was killed I started a masters program because I wanted to learn about grief counseling. Then my daughter gets killed by a distracted driver. In some way I believe I was meant to do this all along.

Do you think people underestimate the dangers of distracted driving?

I’m not sure people underestimate the dangers of distracted driving or not. Yes, you could say, “If people drive distracted then they must underestimate the dangers of distracted driving.” But I think that many people who understand the dangers of distracted driving do so anyway because they think “I’m a good driver, I’m an experienced driver.”

I had an appreciation of the dangers of distracted driving, but until it sunk in, I continued to drive distracted. That’s important to pay attention to. And with respect to Jay and the folks at [Levinson and Stefani] who are doing talks, they understand that that’s the reason why we talk about the excuses we give ourselves for continuing to drive distracted. You have to explore those excuses: “Hey, does this excuse really make sense and do I want to continue to take chances?”

What’s your reaction when people say, “Well, I’m a good driver, it would never happen to me”?

I let them know that in addition to meeting hundreds of moms and dads who have lost children to distracted driving, I’ve also met with people who have killed others because of distracted driving. No one who’s killed through distracted driving doesn’t give one of the excuses: I looked away for just a few seconds, it was an important call, I’ve never been in a crash, I’m a good driver. Those excuses sound pretty hollow to the family members of those you killed, and also to yourself. And once you’ve done it you can’t change things. You can’t turn back the clock.

Are kids more at risk than adults?

I think kids are more at risk because of their inexperience. The statistics show that 16-18 years olds text 33-35 percent of the time while driving; the 19-25 year olds text at about 42 or 44 percent; the 25-34 year olds text over 50 percent. So the 16-18 year olds who text a lot less, the frequency of them being in crashes, that’s attributable to distracted driving because of their inexperience. But I also think they’re more likely to listen. I think when you get a little older you get fixed in your ways, a little stubborn. You’ve been telling yourself excuses for years and it becomes so ingrained that you’re not open to change.

The thing we have working against ourselves is that most of the time when we drive distracted, we don’t have a crash. It’s that collective experience of not being in a crash that’s always there. Maybe you’re looking at the phone and saying, “You know, I’m driving, I really ought to text somebody. Should I pull over or should I not. Well, it’s just a couple seconds. I’ve done it so many times.” So it’s that collective lock, if you will, that perpetuates the feeling that we can get away with it. There’s a big difference between being a safe driver and a lucky driver.

How do you see the future shaking out as technology advances and, supposedly, more distractions become part of everyday life?

There are challenges. I wish and hope that auto manufacturers wouldn’t find it necessary to build in-voice texting, allowing you to access Facebook in the car, things like that. There’s no need for it. But they continue to do it and the government doesn’t tell them not to do it. Just before you called I spoke with a 17-year-old who is developing an app that keeps his friends and peers safe. And it’s probably every other week I talk to teenagers or college students figuring out, “Hey, has anyone tried this? What about this?”

As I said, I’m optimistic. Middle school kids are wonderful. They know exactly what their moms and dads are doing. I underestimated them the first time I talked to them. When I do talks with middle school kids, I get emails from their moms and dads and they say, in essence, “Gosh, you unleashed a monster on me! On one level I’m annoyed with you, but on a larger level I’m really happy, because if they’re working on me not to drive distracted, I’m hoping that’ll persist through their teenage years and they don’t drive distracted.” I think there’s a lot to be optimistic about. There’s a lot to be concerned about, a lot to be scared about, but lots to be optimistic about.

What are some things people can do to prevent distracted driving?

There’s more distractions than just using your cell phone, whether you’re putting on makeup, eating, whether you’re a young parent turning to talk to your kid in the car seats in the back, guys looking at pretty girls, whatever it might be. It’s easy to focus on cell phones. If you would send out an email or a group text when you get in your car, tell everybody, “Hey, I’m going to be driving, I’m not going to pick up the phone for any reason for the next half hour. If you leave a message, I’ll call you back.”

You do that, and then you put the phone on airplane mode or turn it off, stick it in the glove compartment so you’re not tempted. That’s a simple thing to do. I’m not saying it’s easy. Even after Casey was killed it was probably a couple years when I was tempted to pick up my phone. So it takes a while because these are habits.

What’s your hope for End Distracted Driving moving forward?

We certainly want to ramp up the presentations. We have presenters all across the country like Jay in Chicago. This year we have a big campaign with the American Association for Justice doing free talks in middle schools, high schools, and colleges around the country. The 2016-17 school year, our goal is to talk to at least 100,000 kids on a 100 percent volunteer basis, which is neat. We’re going to be having a national PSA—and it was just explained to me what a meme is—a national video and meme PSA contest that we’re going to announce later in the fall. We think that’s really important. We want to continue to work on … there’s two parts to this: How are you driving yourself and what do you do when you’re a passenger in a car and someone tries to drive distracted. We’re working a lot on the conversation—how you can have a fruitful, non-confrontational conversation with the driver, how you can fashion that conversation to maximize the effectiveness that they’ll put their phone down, and that maybe, just maybe, they’ll think twice about driving distracted as a result of that action or intervention.

To learn more about End Distracted Driving, visit the website and its Facebook page.

Keeping potential cases away by helping new drivers be safe

June 6, 2016 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Jay spent time over the past two weeks away from the office trying lower the number of potential car crash cases we handle. And this was a good thing.

End Distracted Driving is an organization started by Joel Feldman and Dianne Anderson after their daughter, Casey Feldman, was tragically killed in a crosswalk by a distracted driver in 2009. Their mission is to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving while generating action to prevent it. Jay took part it in EndDD’s nationwide program by reaching out in his community and speaking to drivers education classes at Crystal Lake South High School and Cary-Grove High School.

“I’ve spoken to other lawyers, college students, and law students, but this was a bit different,” Jay said. “Trying to catch and maintain the attention of a group of high school students on the cusp of summer vacation was a bit more challenging. Still, I was impressed by how attentive and responsive they were.”

Students readily agreed with the common (mis)perception that teens are “the worst” when it comes to texting and driving. However, research indicates otherwise:

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

“They were a bit surprised when I showed them the actual numbers,” Jay said. “However, there were a lot of hands in the air when I asked if any of them had been in the car while a parent was texting while driving.”

And that seems to be a big hurdle. If we are going to demand safe driving from our children, it’s time we start showing them what it looks like—every time we’re in the car.

We take our jobs seriously, representing victims of car crashes every day. But we also take seriously our responsibility to increase driver safety and awareness.