Did you know that each day in the United States, more than nine people are killed and more than 1,060 people are injured in car crashes due to distracted driving? According to a CDC study, 3,331 people were killed in 2011 in crashes involving a distracted driver. That is a sobering number!
According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), you are 23 times more likely to have an accident if you text while driving. And while texting is generally what we think of when we mention distracted driving, it’s important to note that distracted driving can also include anything that would make you take your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road or your mind off driving.
In an effort to educate people on the dangers of distracted driving and how to combat this growing problem, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will host a Distracted Driving Technology Showcase on Friday, April 19, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the FCC’s Commission Meeting Room located at 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554.
This showcase will bring together technology organizations, wireless carriers, government agencies and others involved with creating tools used to fight distracted driving. Expected exhibitors include AT&T, Sprint/Nextel, Verizon, Iconosys, Inc., National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS), National Safety Council (NSC), the American Traffic and Safety Services Association (ATSSA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), MobileLutions, Aegis Mobility, Cell Control, AAA Foundation, Access2Communications, Inc., Auto Alliance, DRIVE SMART VA, Information Logistics, Mobile Communication Technologies, LLC, 10n2 Technologies and ORIGO.
There will be interactive displays, simulators, new technologies and applications which have all been developed to educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. This event is free and open to the public. We encourage you to attend this exciting event to learn more about the dangers of distracted driving and the tools available to decrease the dangers.
For more information on the event: https://www.fcc.gov/events/fcc-showcase-technology-prevents-distracted-driving