Health News
- Join High Schoolers Around The State On Sept. 19 In Taking The 'it Can Wait' Pledge Not To Text While Driving
In preparation for its national day of action, the "It Can Wait" campaign teamed up with state legislators in four schools across Kentucky to increase awareness about the risks of texting while driving. Become an advocate too by taking the pledge not...
- New Study Finds Texting And Driving Kills And Injures More Teens Than Drinking And Driving, And Is Becoming More Prevalent
A new study finds that texting while driving has become more dangerous among teenagers than drinking and driving, and it says the number of teens who are dying or being injured as a result of this habit has "skyrocketed." Nationwide, more than 3,000 teens...
- 'one Text Or Call Could Wreck It All' Traffic Safety Campaign Being Promoted This Month
A new traffic campaign with the slogan of "One Text or Call Could Wreck It All" is being sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this month. April has been designated Distract Driving Awareness Month, with Kentucky law-enforcement...
- National Campaign Targets Distracted Driving
With the aim of raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, national public-service campaign "Decide to Drive" kicked off this month. With former boxer Joe Frazier as spokesman, the campaign features a website, as well as posters, postcards...
- Most Kentuckians In Favor Of Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving
Though three of four Kentuckians admit to talking on the phone while driving, just as many would support a law banning cell phone use while operating a vehicle, the Kentucky Health Issues Poll has found. "Although most Kentucky adults use their cell...
Health News
Ban texting and cell phone use while driving, National Transportation Safety Board urges
States should prohibit drivers from using cell phones and other portable electronic devices while behind the wheel, except during emergencies, the National Transportation Board said Tuesday. The recommendation was unanimous among the five members of the board, who said it should apply to hands-free and hand-held phones.
"The board made the recommendation in connection with a deadly highway pileup in Missouri last year," reports Joan Lowy of The Associated Press. "The board said the initial collision in the accident near Grays Summit, Mo., was caused by the inattention of a 19-year-old pickup driver who sent or received 11 texts in 11 minutes immediately before the crash."
The crash involved the pickup, a tractor truck and two school buses. The driver of the pickup and a 15-year-old student on one of the buses were killed. Thirty-eight others were injured.
Though the board cannot impose restrictions on cell phone use, federal and state lawmakers and regulators take their recommendations very seriously.
Accidents involving texting and cell phone calls are becoming increasingly common. It has even become commonplace for investigators to immediately to look at texting records when launching an accident investigation, Lowy reports.
The board previously recommended that commercial truck drivers and bus drivers be prohibited from texting and talking on cell phones. Texting while driving is forbidden in 35 states, including Kentucky. But about 2 in 10 American drivers, and half of drivers between the ages of 21 and 24, said they have texted or sent an email message while driving, a survey from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found. (Read more)
- Join High Schoolers Around The State On Sept. 19 In Taking The 'it Can Wait' Pledge Not To Text While Driving
In preparation for its national day of action, the "It Can Wait" campaign teamed up with state legislators in four schools across Kentucky to increase awareness about the risks of texting while driving. Become an advocate too by taking the pledge not...
- New Study Finds Texting And Driving Kills And Injures More Teens Than Drinking And Driving, And Is Becoming More Prevalent
A new study finds that texting while driving has become more dangerous among teenagers than drinking and driving, and it says the number of teens who are dying or being injured as a result of this habit has "skyrocketed." Nationwide, more than 3,000 teens...
- 'one Text Or Call Could Wreck It All' Traffic Safety Campaign Being Promoted This Month
A new traffic campaign with the slogan of "One Text or Call Could Wreck It All" is being sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this month. April has been designated Distract Driving Awareness Month, with Kentucky law-enforcement...
- National Campaign Targets Distracted Driving
With the aim of raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, national public-service campaign "Decide to Drive" kicked off this month. With former boxer Joe Frazier as spokesman, the campaign features a website, as well as posters, postcards...
- Most Kentuckians In Favor Of Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving
Though three of four Kentuckians admit to talking on the phone while driving, just as many would support a law banning cell phone use while operating a vehicle, the Kentucky Health Issues Poll has found. "Although most Kentucky adults use their cell...