Your mobile phone may have an unlimited plan... Your child's life does not.
Distracted driving is killing our kids.
Distracted Driving is a growing danger and is killing and injuring people at an alarming rate, including our children. The problem we face is a real one, but working together we can help both child passengers and younger drivers get home safe and sound. The facts are chilling:
- Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. (NHTSA)
- Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it's hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)
- The worst offenders are the youngest and least-experienced drivers: men and women under 20 years of age. (NHTSA)
- Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
Help us prevent distracted driving.
It's easy to help us spread the message about distracted driving, and do something about it yourself.
Safe Kids has partnered with ZoomSafer, makers of mobile phone software that helps you stay focused on the road. By purchasing a smartphone (free with activation) that has ZoomSafer pre-installed, you can ensure that your family is less likely to be involved in an accident due to driver distraction, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Safe Kids, an organization dedicated to child safety.
ZoomSafer keeps you focused on the road by detecting when you're driving, and locking the phone so you are not distracted by incoming calls, texts, or emails. ZoomSafer is also a great program for teen drivers, who are the most at-risk group for texting while driving.
Resources
Distraction.gov
The official US Government website for distracted driving.
Distracted Driving Laws
Information about distracted driving laws from AAA.
Governors Highway Safety Association
The State's Voice on Highway Safety
www.safekids.org
The official site for Safe Kids
How ZoomSafer works