CATS Connections: Focus on Distracted Driving (12/1/09) - 5 parts
To raise public awareness of the risks and dangers of both texting and speaking while driving. Produced as part of the monthly CATS Connections series on Derry CTV.
Kimberley Pietz served as host of the program Guests: Howard Hedegard, educator at Dartmouth's Center for Injury Prevention, David Campbell, New Hampshire state representative from Nashua, and Bryan Reimer, a Research Scientist at MIT's AgeLab. Produced and directed by Bob Comenole on Derry CTV.
Each provided substantial insight into research on the issue, as well as the public and legislative responses to the dangerous and emerging trend of driving while speaking/texting. The panel emphasized the extreme danger of texting while driving, and established the fact that speaking on hands-freephones is no safer than speaking on hand-held devices. They fully explored the variety of ways that this behavior can be mitigated: through education,policy, cultural change and technology.
More than 10% of fatalities involving automobiles are due to distracted drivers. In New Hampshire, as many as 17% of non-fatal crashes per year are due to distracted driving. Parts 1 through 5 are posted below in descending order.
Community Alliance for Teen Safety - 11 Peabody Road, Suite 1 - Derry, NH 03038 - (603) 434-5251
