Pennsylvania Taking Steps to Stop
Distracted Driving

June 2010

A recently published Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) report shows that Pennsylvania is making progress in the fight against distracted driving. GHSA spokesman John Adkins commented that PA "is doing a lot of the right things" by educating motorists about the dangers of distracted drivers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), distracted driving accounted for 5,870 deaths and 15,000 injuries in 2008. Current numbers from NHTSA also estimate that, at any given moment, six percent of drivers are talking on cell phones and one percent are texting.

The GHSA found that Pennsylvania:

• Made distracted driving a priority in highway safety plans
• Distributed educational materials to teen drivers
• Recorded when distracted driving played a role in accidents
• Added distracted driving to driver education and licensing exams

However, the GHSA is hoping for more concrete measures, such as a ban on texting while driving. These efforts are being introduced to PA State Legislature this year.