Distracted Driving Seen as a Public Health Issue
8/17/2010
The problem of distracted driving has become so extensive that some people are starting to see it as a public health problem.
In fact, earlier this year Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center announced that physicians should consider talking to their patients about distracted driving now that it has become a safety issue that is almost comparable to drunken driving.
"When a doctor raises an issue while providing overall preventive care, the message is different from that conveyed by a public service announcement nestled between ads for chips and beer or a printed warning on a product box. It's time for us to ask patients about driving and distraction," wrote Dr. Amy Ship in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The announcement was motivated in part by data showing that some 28 percent of all accidents in the U.S. are now linked to distracted driving behavior, which includes cell phone use and texting.
Safety officials have long faced an uphill battle when it comes to reducing distracted driving. Along with being responsible for thousands of accidents, the problem also contributes to higher auto insurance rates in many states.
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Wednesday, September 01, 2010
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