Texting and Driving, A Killer Combination
West Chicago, Illinois: November 22, 2013 - The popularity of mobile devices has had some unintended and even dangerous consequences. Traffic safety experts now know that mobile communications are linked to a significant increase in distracted driving, resulting in injury and loss of life.
A series of public service announcements produced in partnership with the the DuPage County State's Attorney's and the Illinois Secretary of State's offices in 2010, and created by PUNCH Films, drives home the message in a highly impressionable way. Developed to air as public service announcements, the short spots were filmed at the DuPage County morgue and targeted for a diverse audience; teens, business people, and carpool moms. Each one delivers unforgettable impact.
The West Chicago Police Department has supplied the following information about distracted driving:
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2010 driver distraction was the cause of 18 percent of all fatal crashes – with 3,092 people killed – and crashes resulting in an injury – with 416,000 people wounded.
• Forty percent of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger, according to a Pew survey.
• The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.
• Eleven percent of drivers aged 18 to 20 who were involved in an automobile accident and survived admitted they were sending or receiving texts when they crashed.
Distracted driving endangers life and property and the current levels of injury and loss are unacceptable. Additionally, 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2 makes it illegal to compose or read text messages while driving a motor vehicle. The fines are graduated with the fine for the first offense being $75, $100 for the second, $125 for the third and $150 for the fourth and subsequent offenses.
For more information, visit the Illinois Secretary of State's website, www.cyberdriveillinois.com and search distracted driving.