Commentary

Whatever the cause, the effects of distracted driving are serious, especially with the dramatic increases in traffic on our nation's roadways. In data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted drivers were a factor in 25 to 50 percent of all vehicle crashes. Of 6.5 million crashes reported last year, at least 1.5 million were related to distracted drivers. Social and economic costs for these crashes are approaching an estimated $40 billion annually.

This year, 41 states introduced 119 bills related to cell phone usage. Twenty-four of these bills specifically call for hand-held mobile phone bans. The first hand-held ban was passed in New York effective November 1, 2001.

Safe Driving When School's Open

Motor-vehicle fatalities are the number one cause of injury and death for children ages 5 to 18. Young pedestrians are a unique hazard for many reasons.

As a parent, you can do several things to help keep your children safe on the way to school. If your children will be walking to and from school, walk them to school for the first few days. Explain why it is important to cross only at crosswalks and to look left, then right, then left again before entering a crosswalk and to make sure motorists see them.

Many children also ride their bikes to and from school. Make sure your children wear their helmets and other safety equipment. Teach them the rules of the road. Set a good example for your child in the car by always buckling up. Secure your child safely in the back seat, in the proper child safety seat, booster seat or safety belt, depending on the size of your child.

For motorists, driving carefully begins in your driveway. Use extra care when backing out because children might be walking or biking behind you. Always anticipate that a child may jump the curb, ride the bike against the flow of traffic or dart across the street. This will enable you to respond more quickly and to stop in time. Children riding bikes are expected to conform to traffic laws, but many do not.

To help protect children, AAA urges motorists to follow these safety tips: o Slow down in and near school and residential areas.

• Drive with your headlights on-even during the day-so children and other drivers can see you better.
• Look for clues such as school safety patrols, bicycles and playgrounds indicating that children could be in the area.
• Scan between parked cars and other objects for signs of children who may dart into the road.
• Practice extra caution in bad weather.
• Always stop for school buses that are loading or unloading students.

Safe driving is a year-round activity, but when schools are in session extra diligence is needed. So please, drive carefully. For more information about the School's Open-Drive Carefully program, contact AAA Colorado's Traffic Safety department at 303-753-8800, ext. 8101.