AAA SEEKS TO PASS “TEXTING WHILE DRIVING” BAN

New AAA research shows drivers text less in California in wake of new state law.

NEWS from AAA South Dakota, Sept. 30 – AAA and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety are launching new legislative and communications campaigns to reduce distracted driving and improve safety on our roadways. The motor club has announced it will work to pass laws banning text messaging by drivers in all 50 states by 2013. AAA cites strong public support for the laws, the danger of distracted driving, and new research by the Automobile Club of Southern California showing the positive impact of California’s texting ban.

In addition, AAA is joining the Foundation to call on motorists to drive distraction-free during the week of October 5–11 as part of its inaugural Heads Up Driving Week.  

“The new technologies that help us multitask in our everyday lives, when combined with increasingly popular social media sites, present hard-to-resist challenges for the typically safe driver,” said AAA South Dakota spokesman Mark Madeja. “Enacting texting bans for drivers can help halt the spread of this dangerous practice among motorists and is a key legislative priority for AAA in South Dakota and around the country.”

Currently, 18 states and the District of Columbia have laws that address text messaging by all drivers. Plus, two more states have laws that prohibit teens and other new drivers from texting while driving. 

“AAA will be actively lobbying in South Dakota this year to pass an anti-texting law,” said Madeja. And we continue to warn drivers of the dangers of distracted driving through public education, driver training, and other safety programs.”

Recent high-profile texting crashes and a provocative TV public service announcement in Britain have brought the dangers of distracted driving, and texting while driving in particular, into the public spotlight. Nevertheless, AAA Foundation research reveals that one in five U.S. drivers admitted to texting while driving at least once during the previous 30 days. Multiple surveys show that 80 to 90 percent of Americans support texting bans. AAA is pursuing laws that make it illegal for drivers of all ages to send, write or read a text message or e-mail while their vehicle is in motion.

AAA study shows number of texting drivers drops following ban

The AAA legislative push to enact texting while driving bans is supported by new research released by the Auto Club of Southern California showing that the texting-while-driving ban implemented in California in January 2009 appears to be reducing texting by drivers. 

Prior to the California texting-while-driving ban, researchers observed 1.4 percent of drivers at any point in time in Orange County, Calif. were texting while driving. Following the law taking effect, just 0.4 percent of drivers were observed texting—a decline of about 70 percent overall. This indicates that banning texting while driving can potentially change driving behavior of motorists, reduce dangerous distracted driving, and improve safety.

“I’m pleased to see that the frequency of texting while driving dropped after the texting ban went into effect in California,” said Madeja. “We hope that this new data will help influence lawmakers here in South Dakota to take action and pass similar legislation banning texting while driving.”

The popularity of texting has grown quickly over the past four years. According to the wireless industry trade association, CTIA, the number of monthly texting messages reached 110 billion at the end of 2008, a more than 11-fold increase in three years. Studies have shown texting while driving to be an extremely dangerous practice for drivers because of the extended time spent not looking at the road.

AAA Foundation encourages drivers to participate in Heads-Up Driving Week

The AAA Foundation and AAA call on all drivers to pledge their participation in Heads Up Driving Week, which runs from Monday, Oct. 5 through Sunday, Oct. 11.

“We are asking everyone to rethink their driving behavior and take the first step toward becoming distraction-free by trying it for a week and doing it for life,” said Madeja. By participating, drivers vow to eliminate distractions behind the wheel and sign a pledge committing to distraction-free driving for Heads Up Driving Week and beyond. To sign the pledge and view ten tips on how to eliminate distractions – and learn the facts about distracted driving, visit AAAFoundation.org.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its more than 51 million members (88,000 in South Dakota) with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully-tax paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.