Distracted Driving Emphasis Area Team

Distracted Driving Overview

• Performance Objectives 2016-2020 – Fatality Objective: Reduce the five-year average

of distracted driving-related fatalities on all roads in Maryland from 232 (2009-2013) to 140 or fewer by December 31, 2020.

– Serious Injury Objective: Reduce the five-year average of distracted driving-related serious injuries on all roads in Maryland from 2,348 (2009-2013) to 1,025 or fewer by December 31, 2020.

Distracted Driving Related Crash Data

333 303 281 260 250 232 185 173 161 150 140

050

100150200250300350

2004-2008

2005-2009

2006-2010

2007-2011

2008-2012

2009-2013

2010-2014

2011-2015

2012-2016

2013-2017

2014-2018

2015-2019

2016-2020

ACTUAL

GOAL

FATALITIES (5 year average)

4,134 3,648

3,191 2,826 2,545 2,348 1,624 1,447 1,290 1,150 1,025

0500

1,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,500

2004-2008

2005-2009

2006-2010

2007-2011

2008-2012

2009-2013

2010-2014

2011-2015

2012-2016

2013-2017

2014-2018

2015-2019

2016-2020

ACTUAL

GOAL

SERIOUS INJURIES (5 year average)

Distracted Driving Overview

• What is distracted driving? • Distracted driving occurs when the driver (s)

fails to observe due diligence on the road: – Shifting attention away from the task can be

anything: • adjusting a radio • attending to a child • thinking about day-to-day worries • using a cell phone • eating

Distracted Driving Defined NHTSA

• Visual distraction: Tasks that require the driver to look away from the roadway to visually obtain information;

• Manual distraction: Tasks that require the driver to take a hand off the steering wheel and manipulate a device;

• Cognitive distraction: Tasks that are defined as the mental workload associated with a task that involves thinking about something other than the driving task.

Overview of Strategies • Five Specific Strategies

– Evaluate and improve data quality for problem identification and program evaluation purposes.

– Enhance and improve enforcement of distracted driving laws

– Integrate and foster the use of technologies and engineering applications to address distracted driving infrastructure

– Conduct outreach initiatives including, but not limited to education, training, and media programs to reduce distracted driving

– Evaluate and recommend legislation and/or regulations that address distractive behavior while driving

Strategy-1 Action Items • Evaluate and improve data quality for problem

identification and program evaluation purposes. – Lead: Doug Mowbray (MHSO)

• Five (5) Action Items – Action Item 1.1: Evaluate the ACRS distracted driving input

field and related codes and make recommendations for improvement to the ACRS interface and corresponding field manual (or other related law enforcement materials) to the Maryland Traffic Records Coordinating Committee (TRCC) ACRS Task Force.

– Action Item 1.2: Monitor the quality (especially completeness and accuracy) of distracted driving data collected in ACRS.

Strategy-1 Action Items – Action Item 1.3: Develop training for law enforcement on

the criticality of collecting complete and accurate distracted-driver related crash information on the Maryland state crash report (ACRS).

– Action Item 1.4: Implement training on distracted driving that meets Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission (MPCTC) approval and make the training available online.

– Action Item 1.5: Identify alternative data sources (beyond crash) to support the analysis of distracted driving behavior and incorporate these data in distracted driving program planning.

Strategy-2 Action Items • Enhance and improve enforcement of

distracted driving laws • Lead: Major Anderson (MDTA)

• Action Item 2.1: Identify best practices of distracted driving enforcement strategies

• Action Item 2.2: Train officers and provide quick reference materials to better identify traffic code violations associated with distracted driving.

• Action Item 2.3: Conduct high-visibility distracted driving enforcement throughout the year, with special emphasis placed on implementing programs during the months of April and October.

• Action Item 2.4: Encourage partnerships between law enforcement and other traffic safety agencies to conduct high-visibility distracted driving enforcement.

• Action Item 2.5: Analyze data to determine those areas best suited to conduct high-visibility enforcement.

Strategy-3 Action Items • Integrate and foster the use of technologies and

engineering applications to address distracted driving infrastructure. – Lead: Mansoureh Jeihani (Morgan State University)

• Action Item 3.1: Research, identify, and evaluate technologies that can reduce and mitigate the impacts of distracted driving.

• Action Item 3.2: Research, identify, and evaluate engineering practices being implemented by States through contact with groups such as IBTTA, NHTSA, NTSB, and others.

• Action Item 3.3: Encourage the deployment of engineering solutions on highways, such as designated “texting” pull off areas

Strategy-3 Action Items

• Action Item 3.4: Identify and promote, through partnerships with relevant agencies, phone applications that will delay or turn off texting, voice, and internet capability while vehicles are in motion.

• Action Item 3.5: Coordinate with the Infrastructure EAT to identify infrastructure solutions to distracted driving.

• Action Item 3.6: Identify and invite additional traffic safety professional engineers to EA Team meetings.

Strategy-4 Action Items • Conduct outreach initiatives including, but not

limited to education, training, and media programs to reduce distracted driving. – Leads: Christina Utz and Julie Maione (MHSO) – Action Item 4.1: Measure the impact and

effectiveness of Maryland’s current distracted driving related outreach programs, such as “Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the Other.”

– Action Item 4.2: Identify distracted driving target areas and audiences through crash and citation data to focus outreach and education efforts.

Strategy-4 Action Items

• Action Item 4.3: Implement a statewide distracted driving education and enforcement campaign similar to Smooth Operator.

• Action Item 4.4: Provide PI&E outreach for law enforcement and other partners to distribute during Distracted Driving campaigns and initiatives (in conjunction with HVE).

• Action Item 4.5: Develop educational materials about distractions, other than handheld cell phone and texting, which can impact driver behavior.

Strategy-4 Action Items

• Action Item 4.6: Develop and conduct a distracted driving media campaign that will augment HVE during October and April waves.

• Action Item 4.7: Develop a distracted driving awareness program that can be delivered in high schools, Drivers Education Programs, and community events targeting teens.

Strategy-5 Action Items • Evaluate and recommend legislation and/or

regulations that address distractive behavior while driving. – Lead: Vacant (MHSO Liaison?)

• Action Item 5.1: Locate and designate high crash risk areas as No Hand Held / Texting Zones with increased penalties, fines, etc. (similar to Work / School Zones).

• Action Item 5.2: Coordinate legislative efforts with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Legislative Liaison to ensure consistency with the State Highway Administration Five Year Plan.

Strategy-5 Action Items • Action Item 5.3: Convene a Legislative subcommittee

within the Distracted Driving EA Team to review and identify gaps in Maryland text messaging and handheld cell phone laws.

• Action Item 5.4: Recommend and draft position papers, testimony, and new legislation aimed at reducing Distracted Driving.

• Action Item 5.5: Recommend improvements to current statutes in conformance with NHTSA standards to enable qualification for Federal Funding.

• Action Item 5.6: Form partnerships within the legislature to support information needs related to the impacts of distracted driving.

EA Team Structure and Organizations • The Committee is staffed by several organizations represented here

today: – Law enforcement (local and state) – Maryland Highway Safety Office – Engineering – State’s Attorney’s Association – SHA and MDTA – NHTSA – AAA Mid-Atlantic – University of Maryland Medical – MVA – Others

• Committee Meetings – Quarterly meetings facilitated by Chair and Co-chair

• developing action steps, supporting committees as needed – Planning is complete and now we are moving forward with

implementation of the plan

Recruitment

• How can you support the Distracted Driving EAT? – Participate

• Help identify our membership gap/efforts • Quarterly meeting attendance

– what programs/ideas do you have – thoughts on action items – coordination of local and regional efforts

Distracted Driving Team Meeting

• Upcoming EA Team dates: July 21, 2016

• Distracted Driving Efforts – April HVE

• Maryland and Chesapeake House designated “Texting Zones”

• Local radio spots • Law Enforcement Proactive Efforts (April 7-16) • National and Regional Efforts by NHTSA

Question and Answer

Major Kevin M. Anderson Commander, Patrol Division Maryland Transportation Authority Police 4330 Broening Highway Baltimore, MD 21222 410-537-7733 (Office) 443-271-7957 (Cell) kanderson1@mdta.state.md.us