The Great Hang Up

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The facts say it all: Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves and others. W*USA 9 wants to educate you and others on the dangers of distracted driving. Join the movement NOW to put down your phone while driving: "The Great Hang Up!" Click the button on the right and print out our "Great Hang Up!" pledge. Sign it, then keep it in your car as a reminder. We also want to hear about how you or someone you know has been affected by distracted driving. Share your stories here by filling out the response form in the column to the right, and we'll get back to you. TALK BACK! Do you have a story to share? Tell us about it! Did you take the pledge? Did your friends, neighbors, co-workers? Tell them about it!

Distracted Driving Links

The Facts

Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than half a million were injured. (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA))

The proportion of drivers reportedly distracted at the time of a fatal crash has increased from 8 percent in 2004 to 11 percent in 2008. (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA))

More than 800,000 vehicles are being driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone at any given moment during daylight hours. (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA))

Research shows 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)

Traffic Saftey Facts from www.NHTSA.gov

What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving.

There are three main types of distracted driving.

Visual — taking your eyes off the road

Manual — taking your hands off the wheel

Cognitive — taking your mind off the task of driving

Texting while driving involves all three types of distraction. (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA))