DISTRACTED

DRIVING

2019

Liza Lemaster-Sandbank

Highway Safety Specialist,

Occupant Protection Division

Distracted Driving – what you need to know….

• Legislation

• Data

– Target audience

– National Survey

• What’s new? Call to Action

– Strategies

• Enforcement

• Building Momentum

• Observations

State Text Messaging Bans for all Drivers

47 States and DC, PR, Guam, Virgin Islands have a texting ban, all but 3 States have a texting ban

OH

R

I

MD

AK

Primary Enforcement

(all drivers) 42 States

Secondary Enforcement

(all drivers) 5 States

AR

DE

N

J

VA UT

WY

TN

WA

OR

NC

NY MN

DC

LA

IL

CT

CO CA

ME

VT NH

MA

PA

WV

SC

GA

FL

AL MS

TX

OK NM

HI

AZ

NV

ID

MT ND

SD

NE

KS

IA

MO

WI MI

IN

KY

PR

3 States (MT, AZ, MO) Do Not have a

Texting Ban

Pending

4

OH

RI

MD

AK

Primary Enforcement

(all drivers)

Puerto

Rico

*AR

DE

NJ

VA UT

WY

TN

WA

OR

NC

NY MN

DC

*LA

IL

CT

CO CA

ME

VT

NH

MA

PA

WV

SC

GA

FL

AL MS

TX

*OK NM

**HI

AZ

NV

ID

MT ND

SD

NE

KS

IA

MO

WI MI

IN

KY

All Driver Hand-held Cell Phone Bans in the U.S. 16 States and DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands have hand-held cell phone bans for all drivers

** Hawaii doesn’t have a statewide hand-held law, all four Hawaiian Counties have hand-held ordinance bans with stiff penalties.

* Oklahoma and Louisiana prohibit hand-held cell phone use for learners and intermediate license holders.

* Arkansas prohibits hand-held cell phone use for 18-20 year olds. Updated

2/20/2019

The extent of mobile phone use according to CTIA:

• According CTIA Everything Wireless, in 2016 almost every person in America

has a mobile phone.

• There are now more wireless devices than Americans, with about 1.2

devices for every person in the country.

• Ninety percent of consumers say they read a message within minutes of

receipt.

Increasing Use of Cell Phones

In 2016, in the U.S., there

were:

• 396 million wireless

subscriptions

(1.22 per person)

• 309.8 million smart phones

& tablets

• 5.3 billion text messages

per day (CTIA, 2017)

6

Distracted Driving Facts to consider:

• In 2016, there were 3,157 fatal crashes that occurred on U.S. roadways that involved distraction (9% of all fatal crashes).

• In 2016, 3,450 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. (NHTSA)

• Thirteen percent of all distracted drivers using their cell phones were 15-19 years (cell-phone distracted drivers in fatal crashes).

Distraction is a Problem

Demographics & Characteristics of Distracted

Drivers

• An estimated 415,953 passenger vehicles driven by people using handheld cell

phones at a typical daylight moment in 2017.

• The 2017 NOPUS found that handheld cell phone use continued to be higher among

female drivers than male drivers.

• Handheld cell phone use continues to be highest among 16- to 24-year-old drivers,

and lowest among drivers 70 and older.

Source: NHTSA- 2017 National Occupant Protection Use Study (NOPUS)

Sur vey Objectives

• The 2015 National Survey on Distracted Driving Attitudes and

Behavior (NSDDAB) collected data on drivers’:

– demographic and type descriptions;

– extent and frequency of cell phone and app use, texting, and

other device use;

– attitudes, perceptions, and consequences of distracted

driving; and

– knowledge of and attitudes toward measures to deter

distracted driving.

• Results were compared to the 2010 and 2012 NSDDAB results.

Frequency of Answering & Making Phone Calls by Year

10

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Alw

ays

Alm

ost

Alw

ays

Som

eti

me

s

Rar

ely

Ne

ver

Alw

ays

Alm

ost

Alw

ays

Som

eti

me

s

Rar

ely

Ne

ver

Answer Call Make Call2010 2012 2015

Source: 2015 NSDDAB

Driving Behavior Talk Text Use Apps

No difference 52.6% 31.3% 52.5%

Distracted/Not as aware of things 20.1% 33.8% 20.9%

Drive slower 12.4% 12.6% 7.8%

More focused/pay more attention 4.3% 4.4% 3.2%

Drift out of the lane or roadway 1.2% 4.2% 3.4%

Drive erratically/less carefully 1.0% 1.9% 0.0%

Other responses - <0.8% each : Look in your rear or side view mirrors more/less frequently, drive

faster, change lanes less/more frequently or avoid, increase/decrease distance from lead vehicle,

apply brakes suddenly, use signals less frequently

Perceived Driving Differences When Talking

on a Cell Phone, Texting, and Using Apps

Source: 2015 NSDDAB

National Distracted Driving Awareness Campaign

• April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

– April 08 -15, 2019 – National Advertising Campaign

– April 11 – 15, 2019 – Enforcement Mobilization

Call to Action for April 2019

Addressing the issue – Enforcement – dedicate the time and effort,

perception is reality

Understanding the extent of the problem locally – DD Observations,

highly-visible observations, plain clothes, great earned media piece

Engaging the community – Share observation results pre- enforcement

to raise awareness and inform the community about stepped up

enforcement, extent of the issue

Connecting Law Enforcement to Disconnect Drivers from

Distracted Driving (C2D)

• Distracted driving month is an opportunity for States and local law

enforcement to implement a variety of activities to include public

information, education, and outreach, as well as highly-visible

enforcement and communications.

• U Drive. U Text. U Pay. - The 2019 campaign encourages partners to

participate in a coordinated enforcement initiative.

• Law Enforcement kick-off - Connect to Disconnect, C2D.

U Drive. U Text. U Pay. - Connect to Disconnect (C2D)

• A 1-day national distracted driving enforcement and awareness initiative

coordinated by State Highway Safety Offices and Law enforcement

agencies across the country.

• Law enforcement will join together to send a zero-tolerance message to

the public: driving distracted on America’s roadways will result in a

ticket.

• The initiative will be comprehensive, including creative enforcement

strategies, earned and paid media, social media, and awareness efforts.

C2D Enforcement Initiative – April 11, 2019

• Time: 4-hour enforcement period determined by the participating law

enforcement agency

• Location: A single or multiple locations as determined by the participating law enforcement agencies

• Enforcement Strategy: There are a number of strategies that have been successfully implemented and documented during the three NHTSA Distracting Driving Demonstration Projects.

• Media: Press release the day of the event, schedule coverage the day of the event or shortly after to discuss the results of the effort. Interviews with local TV, Radio or newspapers are encouraged.

Enforcement Techniques

ENFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES BY NHTSA DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS AND SITES

3 ENFORCEMENT PROJECTS 1. High Visibility Enforcement

of Distracted Driving Laws

2. High visibility Enforcement of

Distracting Driving Law- Expansion to

larger areas

3. Evaluating the Enforceability of

Texting Laws: Strategies tested in CT

and MA

DEMONSTRATION PROJECT

SITES

Hartford,

Connecticut

Syracuse,

New York California Delaware Connecticut Massachusetts

ENFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES USED

Spotter Technique

Roving Patrols

Unmarked Vehicles

Motorcycle Patrols

Intersection enforcement

Stationary/Covert Enforcement

Lane Splitting

Saturation Patrols

Checkpoints

A Month of Awareness

Sustained Enforcement during the month

Daily enforcement is encouraged,

Integrated distracted driving enforcement during regular traffic

enforcement patrols, and

Tracking citation data and ultimately sharing these numbers

internally can help encourage law enforcement to step up

enforcement efforts, as well as lead to adjustments in operations.

Enforcement tactics to consider:

o Use an intersection to observe and enforcement the law,

o Consider a high traffic volume area where potential stops

are safe,

o Select a location that provides a good vantage point, and

o Consider the spotter technique to enforce the law.

High Visibility Enforcement Operation

National Enforcement Initiative

o Connect to Disconnect (C2D) 4-hour enforcement initiative

on April 11, 2019 to conduct a coordinate enforcement

operation with multiple agencies across the country;

o Determine a specific Time of Day to conduct the

enforcement operation,

o Capitalize on the effort and share the news via an earned

media event or press release.

Media Communications

Products for Enforcement Action Kit (PEAK) are available for

use and include earned media materials such:

o 2019 Anti-Distracted Driving Enforcement Campaign

earned media materials –

Fact Sheet / Talking Points

Sample News Release (Pre-Event)

Sample News Release (Post-Event)

Sample Op Ed

Take advantage of campaign materials

https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-

materials/distracted-driving/u-drive-u-text-u-pay/peak-

enforcement-kit

Distracted Driving Resources

NHTSA’s website is always a great resource for statistics, laws,

campaign material downloads and more. Follow the link and

explore.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving#nhtsa-

action

Observation Form

National Distracted Driving Awareness Campaign

• National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

– April 08 -15, 2019 – National Advertising Campaign

– April 11 – 15, 2019 – Enforcement Mobilization

– Social Norming Campaign – continues the remainder of the

month

THANK YOU

LIZA LEMASTER-

SANDBANK

202-366-4292

LIZA.LEMASTER@

DOT.GOV

21

NHTSA’s 2019 National Distracted Driving

Awareness Month Campaign Update

Lori Gabrielle Millen

February 20, 2019

#

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

• In April 2019, States and communities across the country will

participate in the sixth annual

National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

• U Drive. U Text. U Pay. – NHTSA’s national high-visibility multi-

media advertising campaign and law enforcement blitz to

enforce distracted driving laws.

• Target Audience: Men & Women 18-34 (w/a slight skew to

women)

• Paid Multi-Media: April 8-15

Enforcement: April 11-15

Social Norming: April 15 - 30

#

U Text. U Drive. U Pay. Enforcement Campaign Resources

NHTSA has developed downloadable resources – tools - to help make law

enforcement’s job a little easier when they’re communicating with the public.

These tools, which are fill-in-the-blank templates for the captain, chief, or

other officers, give the enforcement dates, the national data, and explain why

officers are enforcing distracted driving laws.

This is not about giving tickets; instead it’s about helping law enforcement

agencies create a positive shift in motorists’ behaviors’ by motivating them to

put their phones down to avoid a ticket, which helps save lives.

These resources include:

• English and Spanish Language TV Spots

• Paid Media Campaign (coming soon)

• Products for Law Enforcement Action Kit (PEAK)

• Connect-to-Disconnect (C2D) Enforcement Resources

#

NHTSA PEAK Enforcement Campaign Resources All materials are available on trafficsafetymarketing.gov

Products for Enforcement Action Kit (PEAK)

* FAQs/Talking Points (Spanish coming soon)

* Pre and post-Enforcement News Releases (Spanish coming soon)

* Sample OpEd (Spanish coming soon)

* Sample Social Media Posts (coming soon)

* English & Spanish Language Logos

* Additional Fact Sheets

#

NHTSA C2D Enforcement Campaign Resources All materials are available on trafficsafetymarketing.gov

Connect-to-Disconnect (C2D)

• Overview

• Sample Timeline

• Observation Survey Strategies

• Pre-Event Press Release

• Distraction Enforcement Spotter Techniques

• Post-Event Press Release

• Sustained Enforcement Strategies

• NHTSA Distracted Driving Enforcement Demonstration Project Strategies

#

Examples of how you can use PEAK and C2D materials

Goal: to increase information sharing & collaboration within communities

• Use the resources on TSM to share information about enforcement

activities:

* News releases

* Community newsletters, calendars and list-serves

* Social media websites (FB, Twitter)

* Local events – farmers’ markets, charity races, school activities

* State and community-based websites

#

What law enforcement can do AFTER the enforcement

period

#

U Drive. U Text. U Pay Distracted Driving - Contact

• Lori Gabrielle Millen

• Marketing Specialist

• DOT HQ

• lori.millen@dot.gov

• 202-366-9742

Vehicle Recalls Outreach

Kil-Jae Hong

February 20, 2019

#

Vehicle Recalls - The Issue

• For the past few years, there have been more than 900

vehicle recalls affecting millions of automobiles

• The biggest recall in U.S. history is the Takata Air Bag

Recall

• Estimated 37 million vehicles

• Includes approximately 50 million air bag inflators

• About 25% of open recalls DO NOT get repaired

• ALL repairs are FREE

• Worked so far with DMVs, Tribal Nations, Online Automotive

Sites, and Insurance Industry.

#

Vehicle Recalls – What You Can Do

• We need your help!

• Website – post information about recalls

• Correspondence (E-Blasts, Newsletters, Weekly

Updates)

• Events Outreach – pass out information to community

• Social Media Messaging – post messages and videos

regarding recalls

• Word of Mouth – have law enforcement spread the word

to family, friends and neighbors

• Materials and Messages Available on

trafficsafetymarketing.gov

• First push on March 7 for Daylight Savings

#

Vehicle Recalls - Contact

• Kil-Jae Hong

• Marketing Specialist

• DOT HQ

• Kil-jae.hong@dot.gov

• 202-493-0524