Show no tolerance on driving distractions

The current Daily Herald series on distracted driving “Fatal Distraction” should be read by all. Kudos to the Herald for putting this excellent series “front and center” in the paper.

According the series: in 2009, almost a half a million were seriously injured and over 5,000 died in distracted driving related automobile crashes. Businesses that banned cellphone use for its on-the-clock driving employees saw a greater than 20 percent decrease in crash rates without a loss of employee productivity.

There are three main types of distraction; taking your eyes off the road, taking your hands off the wheel and taking your mind of what you’re doing. Texting is the most problematic, because it combines all three distractions simultaneously, although even hands-free cellphone use results in cognitive impairment while driving.

We must adopt a no-tolerance attitude on this issue. We all have to pay attention to the task at hand. Parents need to “drive by example” and have a zero tolerance for both impaired and distracted teen driving.

In emergency departments across the country, we see everyday how one accident can change multiple lives forever. Put the cellphone down. Stop distracted driving.

As the Daily Herald editorial suggested: It’s an excellent New year’s resolution for all of us.

Dr. Charles Nozicka

Advocate Condell Medical Center

Libertyville