Delaware Becomes 30th State To Ban Texting While Driving!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010 by Lori Dean
Today, July 6th, 2010, Delaware Governor Jack Markell signed legislation that bans all drivers in the state from using hand-held devices while driving and imposes strict penalties for texting and driving as well.

Congratulations to Delaware for being the 30th state in a 50 state quest to end electronic device distracted driving. Only 20 more to go! We know by now that U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood won't rest until there is a nationwide ban and safe driving solutions.  No Phone While Driving

“Electronic devices are potentially lethal in the hands of any driver,” said Secretary LaHood. “Thanks to Governor Markell, everyone who rides on Delaware’s roads will be safer due to enactment of this strong measure.”

Recently an awareness & research program began with the message "Phone In One Hand, Ticket In The Other" in Connecticut & New York. Distracted driving safety awareness has quickly moved past the "buzzword" phase and is beginning to be seen as the key in preventing company car accidents, injuries and fatalities.

You can read more about the dangers of distracted driving at the DOT distracted driving website, www.distraction.gov.
 

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Watch LIVE - Oprah's NO PHONE ZONE DAY - APRIL 30, 2010 - End Distracted Driving In America

Friday, April 30, 2010 by Lori Dean
Ray LaHood's Blog @ Fastlane.dot.gov Features Oprah's NO PHONE ZONE Live broadcast today!
Check your local listings so you don't miss this very important show.  Over 6,000 deaths each year are preventable. These deaths are attributed to careless, distracted drivers. PUT DOWN THE PHONE, DON'T USE YOUR LAPTOP WHILE DRIVING.  Is that text message or email really worth a life? NO PHONE ZONE LOGO - OPRAH.com


Driving while distracted by your phone or laptop is not safe driving. It is that simple, Make your car a NO PHONE ZONE!


Today is also the last day of National Distracted Driving Awareness month, so in honor of distracted driving victims, please join Jotto Desk & ScreenSafe in ending tech device related distracted driving in watching Oprah today, then take the pledge and read more at Fastlane.dot.gov, Oprah.com & Blog.JottoDesk.com.




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April 15th - It's Tax Day & Day 15 Of National Distracted Driving Month

Thursday, April 15, 2010 by Lori Dean
Uncle Sam and Ray LaHood want you!...To pay your taxes and stop driving distracted!
Uncle SamRay LaHood
Some people think that Americans pay too much in taxes or that our government is becoming to large, perhaps that is true, however when Ray LaHood began his distracted driving crusade last year, who can argue that it is step in the wrong direction for our country? LaHood's goal is simple. SAVE LIVES.

Distracted Driving is preventable. P-R-E-V-E-N-T-A-B-L-E!! If you aren't fumbling for your dropped phone, looking through your email on your laptop or texting while driving, chance are you are focused on the road. Electronic device distraction probably means you aren't driving, sure your car is moving, but you are no longer in control.

Since this month is National Distracted Driving Month and it's day 15, how have you worked to reduce distracted driving? Hopefully you have joined us in keeping driver's focus on the road, not on laptops, trying to text or make phone calls.

Everytime you get into the car, it is another opportunity to NOT drive distracted. Try it just for the next two weeks and see if you survive without your laptop or phone, I think you will!

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About Jotto Desk...
Since 1994, Jotto Desk's goal has been to help you meet the demands of your business in the mobile workplace with products that focus on your safety while driving and help you work more efficiently when parked.

From laptop mount supplies including the no-holes drilled Jotto Desk featuring the Cable Dock® Desktop to additional safe driving environment products such as equipment consoles, Kodiak Mobile by Jotto Desk docking stations, Jotto-Cargo Slide, ScreenSafe software and others, we truly have centered our focus on safe driving solutions. We also now are the only everything but lights public safety provider with our recent product line expansion including vehicle partitions, weapons mounts, push bumpers, window armor and prisoner seating systems.

Distracted driving laws and regulations are rapidly changing and we at Jotto Desk recognize the legal and safety concerns of those who do work daily in their vehicle. For example, one of our products, ScreenSafe, distracted driving software for laptops, is truly designed to enable you and your fleet to perform work safely while complying with distracted driving regulations, offering a renewed peace of mind.

Visit our website @ EverthingButLights.com
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April is National Distracted Driving Month Thanks To FocusDriven

Thursday, April 1, 2010 by Lori Dean
April 2010 is National Distracted Driving MonthFocusDriven.org is a website maintained by advocates for cell-free driving to aim to reduce deaths and injuries caused by cell phone distracted driving. Fueled by personal tragedy, FocusDriven founding member Shelley Forney called for the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in honor of her daughter who was killed by a distracted driver in 2008.

Last week the House of Representatives voted to designate this April to providing information, raising awareness and putting a face on the dangers of distracted driving.

Keep up the hard work FocusDriven.
 

At Jotto Desk, we too understand the risks associated with driving while trying to use electronic devices such as cell phones and laptop computers. For over 15 years we have been providing mounting solutions for laptops and are proud to offer ScreenSafe, which is a software solution that eliminates laptop distractions while driving. Using GPS technology, the program disables the monitor for viewing if the vehicle is moving. Once stopped or safely parked, normal operation resumes. 

Take the next 30 days to make a commitment to yourself and your family, not to text while driving, to not use your laptop while driving and I say even go as far as to not use your phone AT ALL while driving. After those 30 days, I am willing to bet that you won't even miss it.


 
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Workers feel pressured to check smart phones while driving - Canada.com

Friday, March 12, 2010 by Lori Dean
I found this very interesting article titled "Workers feel pressured to check smart phones while driving."  

My guess is that workers who are issued company laptops are checking those too while driving. Get ScreenSafe to eliminate the distractions...

 

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Take The Texting While Driving Quiz From AT&T

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 by Lori Dean
AT&T has created a campaign to increase awareness among it's customers of the dangers of distracted driving, mainly the risks of texting while driving. Among the resources available is a short quiz. 

Jotto Desk Applauds AT&T's stand against distracted driving!

We at Jotto Desk / Screen Safe are truly committed to making our roads safe for our families &  yours and applaud the public position announced by AT&T today. With every blog post I write on distracted driving, whether the topic is the frustration of preventable accidents or the hope that new legislation brings & every person we tell about our product to prevent laptop distracted driving, ScreeSafe, I believe we get a little closer to changing opinions about trying to use technology while also driving. It simply isn't worth it to read that text message, surf the web, watch DVD's or check your email while you fail focus on the road. 

As AT&T says "It Can Wait."


Hopefully everyone you know will take the quiz and see where they could improve.

Just for fun, I have posted my results... The more we work to increase awareness & change public opinion of distracted driving, the more people there will be having results like these... Fingers Crossed!

AT&T Texting While Driving Quiz Results

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Finally A Distracted Driving Stance! AT&T Says "Texting and Driving... It Can Wait"

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 by Lori Dean
Today AT&T announced a campaign aimed at customers that text message while driving.  Simply stated "Texting while driving, it can wait."

So true. Driver's should remember that a self imposed policy of "hands on the wheel, eyes on the road" goes a long way in staying compliant with ever increasing laws against cell phone use while driving.

Wifi enabled laptops and netbooks should never be operated while driving either. However, AT&T doesn't address this in it's distraction discussion. With more service providers offering a mobile hotspot for drivers, more people are "multi-tasking" while driving to be "more productive employees". Unfortunately tech distractions in vehicles are a new breed of distraction. Truth is technological distractions require technological solutions. To learn more about laptop distracted driving solutions visit ScreenSafe.

Important to note... Verizon was public about Distracted Driving dangers due to texting months ago...For the whole story here's what AT&T posted to thier corporate website...

A resource for all wireless users on the dangers of texting while driving.

Take out your wireless device. Read the last text message you received out loud. Would reading or responding to that message from behind the wheel of a moving vehicle be worth the risk of getting into an accident or worse? Chances are it could wait.

In today's 24/7/365 world, staying connected is no longer an option. It's a necessity. With a tenfold increase in text messaging over the last three years according to CTIA – The Wireless Association, there is no question that texting is increasingly becoming the way many communicate today. And, for many, the allure to quickly read and respond – even from behind the wheel of a moving vehicle – can be tempting.

Our goal is to educate all wireless users, but especially teen drivers, that there is a smart way to text.

Our message is simple, yet vital: When it comes to texting and driving, it can wait.



At&T Website Discusses Distracted Driving

 
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Leading Employers Focus on Ending Distracted Driving

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 by Curt Hatton
A new report by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) shows that 74% of 24 leading employers that operate fleets of vehicles either have in place or are planning policies to ban the use of all mobile devices behind the company wheel. ALL. Hand-held, hands-free, you name it.

THIS IS GREAT NEWS.  Think about it -- of 24 leading employers with fleets of vehicles, 74% are taking Distracted Driving SERIOUSLY.  They have either established policies or are planning them to ban the use of these devices (cellphone, pda, laptop) while behind the wheel. 

BIG QUESTION -- Is it enough or is it simply a case of a good first step?  I propose that to have a policy is simply the first step necessary to solving the much larger problem.  A policy is simply the "official stance" a company makes -- it lays out the ifs, whens and whys.  Doing nothing would be similar to being against clean air or clean water...therefore we see the onslaught of policies regarding Driving while Distracted.

So a company issues a policy -- even a policy with real "teeth" -- how does that really affect the issue of Distracted Driving?  A company with 400 fleet vehicles on the road can have a policy banning the use of a mounted laptop computer while driving or the texting while driving -- but how can they ensure that the ban is effective?  Fear?  That seems to be the case and some could argue that the "policy" is strictly liability insurance for when the employee gets in an accident when using the laptop while driving.

"One of the greatest challenges to our distracted driving efforts has been enforcement. But looking over the survey results, it seems clear that the safest employers have the steepest penalties and the most vigorous observation policies."  Here is where I have issues with the Distracted Driving bandwagon -- Enforcement and Corporate Involvement.  I am firmly behind the issue but it will be almost impossible to enforce this corporate policy and the corporate "involvement" is pretty simple in saying "we are against someone texting while driving or working on their laptop while driving".  It costs NOTHING but gives a nice WARM FEELING.  How about investing into safety?

Only technology will solve a technology issue.  Want to scare some people from using their laptops while driving...make a policy that sounds scary but is impossible to enforce.  That will keep those "honest" employees that weren't doing it in the first place...from beginning.  The others will realize...that enforcement will be near impossible and do what they are doing now...rolling the dice. 

Technology currently exists to ensure compliance to the policy.  Products currently exist right now...not in R&D stage...to blank the screen of a laptop computer when the vehicle is in motion.  Every time that driver puts the vehicle in "D" - ScreenSafe will prevent a distraction.  Similar products exist for cell phones as well.  Will it cost Corporate America?  Yes it will -- but if they truly believe that Distracted Driving is an issue and that it causes accidents, then they will be putting their money where right now only their mouth exists.



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Lumber Truck Driver Chokes On Chili Then Plows Into Massachusetts Home

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 by Lori Dean
On Friday, January 29, 2010 in Lowell, Massachusetts, Eric Gremm, 59, of Tyngsborough was definitely a distracted driver. While eating chili as he drove his lumber truck, Mr. Gremm began choking, so such so that he blacked out and lost control of his truck. He awoke to find his truck had crashed into the front of a house!  There was one woman at home on the first floor of the multi-family home, but luckily she was in another part of the house at the time and was not injured. 

Click the image to see the video from the news station in Boston, MA WHDH-TV.
Screenshot of Truck Driver who Crashed into house after choking on chili
Driver Chokes on Chili and Crashes into House
This brings up an important point for me... Will the Lumber Company he worked for be held liable for this accident since he was driving a company vehicle at the time? It is a topic that we discuss at Jotto Desk when talking about cell phone and laptop distracted driving.

Also important to note: City officials have found the house too structurally damaged to remove the truck, so they have condemned the building and are supposedly going to demolish around the truck instead of trying to drive the truck out. The driver of the truck luckily sustained only minor injuries and hopefully realizes now that the only thing you should do while driving is DRIVE!


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Vicarious Liability Should Prompt Revisions In Corporate Electronic Use Policies

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 by Lori Dean
If you will remember, Webster's Dictionary's Word of the Year for 2009 was Distracted Driving. It is more than just a buzz word however. Lately, an increased conversation has arisen on the number of possible "vicarious liability" lawsuits that could be filed by victims of careless drivers using company issued cell phones or other devices such as laptops.

So with that in mind, here is the question. How do companies make sure that their employees don't use their devices while driving? Well, some companies assume their employees "already know not to." Some companies have a written policy for cell phone use, politely suggesting that employees comply. But as a parent, I know the difference between asking someone to do something and it actually being done. That difference is called enforcement.

Enforcement for companies will need to be more sophisticated than a finger shake and a stern voice. The temptation to use technological devices such as laptops and cell phones is too high in vehicles where the driver is "multi-tasking" in traffic. Asking users to simply not use their laptop or phone is fine, but if asked, how many of your employees would admit that they still use devices on a regular basis, especially since they assume they won't be caught or have an accident as a result. I think you'll be surprised. Plus, unless you have formally presented written policy in conjunction with a verbal summation, some employees may not even know that the policy exists.

What now then? Having a written policy in effect must be joined with proper enforcement. Tech devices need tech solutions to ensure enforcement. For laptops, that solution is called ScreenSafe.

Screen Safe is distracted driving software that works by disabling access to a laptop screen when the GPS unit detects that the vehicle is moving. Once the vehicle has stopped or safely parked, normal functions resume. There are several other features to note such as law enforcement compliance logs, (ability to show a police officer exact times your laptop was disabled) occasional quick peeks at your screen if needed. Also ScreenSafe records data alerts of speeding, GPS device unplugging and even more features which demonstrates that ScreenSafe is a full-featured, affordable way to enforce policies and laws and avoid distracted driving lawsuits by avoiding disracted driving accidents altogether. With ScreenSafe, you have eliminated the distraction and allowed the driver to regain focus on the road.

Here is an interesting article from a worldwide financial services firm that sparked my thinking on this topic again.
 
We feel like we are ahead of the curve in the distracted driving conversation since the foucs seems to mainly be on cell phones currently. After deeper investigation, I believe the conversation will include laptops simply because such a large number of employees are being issued company owned units and those drivers aren't getting less distracted anytime soon.
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DOT Announces Federal Texting Ban for Commercial Truck Drivers

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 by Lori Dean
This morning, U.S Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the federal ban on texting while driving for Commercial Truck Drivers & Bus Drivers.

Effective immediately, this newly defined portion of existing laws for these drivers could carry hefty fines of up to $2,750 for offenders.

Read more about today's announcement at Ray Lahood's blog fastlane.dot.gov/2010/01/commercial-truck-and-bus-drivers-prohibited-from-texting-while-driving.html

More to come in the next post - We need to talk about laptops and the role they play in the modern OTR truck...ScreenSafe is the answer.




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High Hopes For New NHTSA Administrator David Strickland

Monday, January 25, 2010 by Lori Dean
It was recently announced that David Strickland is now the new Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Mr. Strickland is well regarded as a proponent for increased funding for various driving safety programs such as drunk driving prevention and seat belt use campaigns. In 2004, Mr. Strickland was named Congressional Staffer Of The Year by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) for his efforts. DAVID STRICKLAND- NHTSA New Administrator - Photo From DOT Blog

With that level of dedication to safe driving, I am hopeful that Mr. Strickland will join forces with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in the fight against distracted driving. While increased attention has been put on cell phone distracted driving, too little attention has been placed on the dangers of working while driving, specifically working on a laptop while driving.

With the announcement by Ford of wi-fi connectivity in cars (access available when vehicle is stopped, even more laptops will ride along with drivers increasing the chances of distraction. It is important to realize that even when the car is moving and the proposed wi-fi connection is inactive, there are many things people can still use their laptops for, to watch movies, read emails, lookup contacts, etc. Cell phones are definitely distractions to drivers. Laptops used by business professionals while driving to be "more productive" in the car, are equally if not more dangerous. 

Unfortunately, company car accidents happen everyday so it is reasonable to assume that people working while driving are distracted in similar ways to cell phone distracted drivers. There are elements of physical distraction and cognitive distraction that must be eliminated. The temptation to focus on technologies instead of the road can become too great. That is where technological solutions must come into play to reduce technological distractions. Similar to programs that limit cell phone usage while a vehicle is in motion, such solutions exist for businesses that restricts laptop usage while a vehicle is in motion as detected by GPS.

ScreenSafe software eliminates distractions while driving by disabling the laptop monitor if the vehicle is moving above a predetermined speed. Once the vehicle is stopped or safely parked, normal operation is resumed. ScreenSafe allows the focus driven individual to keep their focus on the road where it belongs.

As Mr. Strickland begins his new job and begins to prioritize programs, I sincerely hope that preventing distracted driving is high on his list. And I hope that the focus is widened from cell phones to include laptops and netbooks. It is a very underestimated threat to the driving public.


 
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Oprah's No Phone Zone - Sign the Pledge!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 by Lori Dean
Pledge today to not drive distracted. Read it, Sign it, Then Live it.

Sign the pledge online at Oprah.com


Oprah's No Phone Zone Pledge Sheet
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Oprah Show To Discuss Distracted Driving - Monday January 18, 2010

Friday, January 15, 2010 by Lori Dean
Schedule the DVR's kiddos, this Monday, January 18, 2010, Oprah Winfrey will air an episode of her talk show dedicated to the dangers of Distracted Driving. Plan to watch it and then submit your comments here to keep the discussion going!
Oprah WInfrey Show to Discuss Distracted Driving
 
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No Phone Zone! New Zero Tolerance Enforcement Effort In NY & CT

Thursday, January 14, 2010 by Lori Dean
Imagine this scene...
Flashing lights in the rearview mirror...Sirens blaring...

Driver says "Oh no, Why is he pulling me over, i wasn't speeding!"

Officer says "M'am I'm going to have to ask you to put your phone away while driving, and here is a citation for distracted driving. Have a nice day." 

If you live in New York or Connecticut and you are HOLDING your phone while driving, you can be pulled over and ticketed. And if you think this is just another way for the local police to earn some exrta money, think again. This push for enforcement is backed by the "Big Guy". U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has answered the call from states on how to enforce distracted driving safety legislation by giving federal money to two states (NY & CT) that will act as guinea pigs to test out zero tolerance enforcement.

 "We have two studies going on right now," LaHood says. "One in New York, and one in Connecticut that we're funding. We're giving money to law enforcement people so that if they see somebody with a cell phone in their hand, they're going to give them a ticket. We're going to see how these things work."

Interestingly enough, in 2001, New York became the first state to ban hand held cell phones. Apparently New York needs a refresher in enforcement. Sounds good to me.




 
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From Tragedy Comes FocusDriven: Campaign To End Distracted Driving

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 by Lori Dean
     For months now, Jennifer Smith has been telling her tragic distracted driving story to anyone who will listen in an effort to prevent the same thing from ever happening again. Her mother was killed in 2008 by a distracted driver who was talking on a cell phone. In her mother's honor, Jennifer has pushed for increased awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. Now she is President of FocusDriven. FocusDriven is the was formed as a result of the 2009 DOT Distracted Driving Summit. Several family members of distracted driving victims in attendance  have decided to take positive steps toward ending further distracted driving accidents and deaths.

     Today, U.S Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood appeared on the CBS Early Show with Shelley Forney, a mother whose daughter was killed by distracted driver, to announce Focus Driven, Advocates for Cell Free Driving. This organization supports cell phone free driving, aims to put a face on distracted driving, promote public policy and increase personal responsibility. From all of the tv exposure I have seen today including CBS' Early Show and interviews on Fox News Channel, the primary goal is humanizing the heatbreaking stories of loss due to preventable accidents caused by cell phone and laptop distracted drivers.

     Secretary LaHood also blogged today about FocusDriven on his DOT blog and includes a video featuring FocusDriven's Jennifer Smith and the National Safety Council's David Teater, whose son was killed by a woman that ran a red light while talking on her phone. David's wife, Judy, is also a founding member of Focus Driven.

According to the FocusDriven.org, the initial scope is small for the organization, but with increased funding, they hope to further support education and technological solutions for better distracted driving safety. SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PLAN.

What I always come back to is that these accidents and deaths are PREVENTABLE. That is why LaHood is so committed to eliminating tech distractions. He knows that the more people know the dangers and solutions to avoid them, then fewer lives will be lost due to inattention. Keep up the good work Secretary Lahood!
 
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Jotto Desk Announces Acquisition of Patriot Products

Monday, January 4, 2010 by Lori Dean
Leading public safety equipment manufacturer sets new standard in bumper-to-bumper, door-to-door safety, protection, convenience and communications mounting solutions for public safety.

Rogers, Arkansas, December 31, 2009 – Jotto Desk, establishes dominant role as the first, “everything but lights” equipment provider with the acquisition of Patriot Products. As the leading enterprise-class mounting solution provider in public safety, Jotto Desk continues to redefine the right solutions for helping public safety workforces perform their jobs safely and effectively. Jotto Desk’s premier partner network will enjoy the best single source of high quality products from vehicle partitions, prisoner seating, window/door armor, gun racks, duty gear and trunk organizers to push bumpers, skid plates and trunk trays to rugged “intelligent” docking stations, laptop mounts, equipment consoles and SUV/Pickup truck bed cargo slides. Jotto Desk continues to redefine the mobile workspace and expand its' portfolio of high quality products and ability to deliver maximum value to its' customers.

Kurt Murray, owner of Patriot Products, will be joining the Jotto Desk team allowing him to continue to advance safety and productivity in the public safety mobile workforce. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Murray’s industry leading designs and contributions have protected officers and the prisoners they transport. Stuart W. Sage, Director of Sales & Marketing for Jotto Desk explains that “We’re excited to have Kurt on our team. He’s committed to protecting those who protect. We’re committed too and will continue to redefine the mobile workspace for public safety while delivering maximum value. The addition of Patriot’s product line combined with our high quality manufacturing and exceptional execution will truly exceed our customer’s expectations. Kurt’s vast expertise combined with Jotto Desk’s exceptional customer service and delivery will enable us to compete more effectively in new and expanding markets. When you think of Jotto Desk, think Everything But Lights.”

Patriot’s exceptional product line will be offered through Jotto Desk’s premier partner network. As the mobile office and field force automation continues to grow, Jotto Desk will be able to provide proven applications that exceed customer expectations in the following vertical markets: Federal, Law Enforcement, Electric, Telco, Military, EMS, Fire, Construction, Insurance, Real Estate, Agriculture, Oil, Gas, Transportation, Warehousing, Food Distribution, Surveyors and more. Jotto Desk has the technical resources and intellectual property required to deliver maximum value to customers serving a wide variety of industries.

For additional information on Jotto Desk’s acquisition of Patriot Products, contact Stuart W. Sage at stuart@jottodesk.com or visit www.everythingbutlights.com. Patriot’s full line of products are now available through your Jotto Desk Sales Manager. Contact them direct or call 877-455-6886. The Patriot product line can be viewed at www.1patriot.com.

ABOUT JOTTO DESK - Since 1994 Jotto Desk, a business unit of Assembled Products™ Corporation of Rogers, Arkansas, has been innovating and manufacturing laptop computer mounts and equipment consoles for mobile professionals. First to the market with The Mobile Office Desk®, Jotto Desk has grown its product lines offering individuals, fleet managers and IT professionals solid, best in class solutions for mounting and docking laptop computers in all types of vehicles. Jotto Desk products are used in public safety, homeland security, military, infrastructure, sales, service and transportation fleets in small to large businesses. In 2006, Jotto Desk re-defined cargo management with the Jotto-Cargo Slide, a line of truck and SUV cargo slides that provide easy access to cargo in the bed of the vehicle. In early 2009 Kodiak Mobile, a 16 year veteran manufacturer of mobile docking stations was added providing entry into mobile electronics. Kodiak Docking stations are turn-key solutions totally automated with “intelligent power management systems, charging and many laptop protections.

ABOUT ASSEMBLED PRODUCTS CORPORATION - Since 1983 Assembled Products™ Corporation of Rogers, Arkansas has been manufacturing products that make life better. Serving a wide variety of industries, APC’s product lines offer a complete range of high quality, enterprise-class solutions and multi-channel execution with its four distinctive business units: Jotto Desk, Mart Cart, Spray Master Technologies and Xti Hub Motors. The combined organization has the technical resources and intellectual property required to deliver maximum value to its customers.  www.assembledproducts.com

 
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New Distracted Driving PSA from Ray Lahood's Distraction.gov

Monday, January 4, 2010 by Lori Dean
Recently a new public service announcement began airing to increase awareness of driving while distracted. It follows three different storylines and can be viewed on distraction.gov, the U.S. Department of Transportation's new distracted driving safety website.
Watch the New Distracted Driving PSA from US DOT - distraction.gov
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72% Say Texting While Driving Bans Won't Effect Cell Phone Usage - New Survey Results!

Monday, January 4, 2010 by Lori Dean
A new survey released today from a distracted driving solution company called cellcontrol reveals results that shouldn't be ignored by employers with company cell phones or laptops.  In this small study of 100 respondents "88 percent of drivers admitted to using their cell phones to text, email, surf the web or have a conversation in the past 12 months while operating a vehicle. However nearly 75% of the same group agreed that driving while intoxicated and "intexticated" are equally dangerous, according to a Fox News article on the survey. Lady With Laptop and two phones while driving

Here are the survey findings... In particular, I find the results of whether technology should be used to "block" cell phone use interesting. A good number would be in favor of such distracted driving solutions, and it must be pointed out that the same way of thinking can be applied to other regularly used business devices such as laptops. If you prevent the device from operating while the vehicle is in motion, you reinforce safety policies, common sense and ensure compliance from all drivers at risk. 


___________________________________________

Survey questions/results included:
   
   In the last 12 months, have you engaged in distracted driving caused
   by any of the following cell phone activities: texting, emailing,
   surfing the Web or talking on your phone?
   Yes - 88.4%
   No - 11.6%
   
   If given the technology to block the use of cellular phones while
   operating a vehicle, on which of the following would you use the
   technology:
   Yourself - 26.8%
   Spouse or significant other - 23.2%
   Children - 65.2%
   Employees - 27.7%
   None of the above - 17.0%
   
   What do you consider to be more dangerous?
   Driving while intoxicated - 17.0%
   Driving while texting - 9.8%
   They are equally dangerous - 73.2%
   
   Has the passing of new laws prohibiting distracted driving changed
   the way you use your cellular phone while operating a vehicle?
   Yes - 27.7%
   No - 72.3%
   
   Are you aware of any accidents in the last 12 months involving
   yourself, family or friends that was caused by distracted driving?
   Yes - 27.7%
   No - 72.3%
   
   In purchasing cellular phones for your children or employees, would
   you consider the ability to control distracted driving on a specific
   phone type as an important feature in the buying decision?
   Yes - 60.7%
   No - 8%
   Maybe - 31.3%
   
   Besides cellular phones, which of the following mobile devices do you
   currently have or use in your personal or work vehicle?
   Laptop - 28.8%
   Handheld ordering device - 2.7%
   MP3 player - 27.9%
   GPS system - 45.9%
   DVD player - 32.4%
   None of the above - 27.9%
   
   In regards to automobile insurance: Would you use technology to
   restrict your use of a mobile device while operating a vehicle if
   you received a discount on your premium for doing so?
   Yes - 75.9%
   No - 24.1%
   
   In regard to automobile insurance: Would you be willing to change
   insurance carriers if a different carrier offered a discount that
   ultimately saved you money for the use of technology to stop
   distracted driving?
   Yes -- 53.6%
   No - 46.4%
___________________________End of Results Posted______________________
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Distraction.gov - DOT's New Go-To Website For All Things Distracted Driving!

Monday, January 4, 2010 by Lori Dean
 Introducing the U.S. Department of Transportation's new website the provides a centralized location for information relating to the prevention of distracted driving - Distraction.gov

This new website pools previously released information from various sources and newly added content in a slick design that hopefully will become yet another way to get the message out "Don't Drive Distracted!" 

Currently featured on the site is a 30 second public service announcement which will begin to air nationally this week.  Keep it up DOT! Let's continue to get the message out about Distracted Driving safety and Distracted Driving Solutions!


D!straction.gov - Screenshot of New Government Website to Combat Distracted Driving
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