Maybe some drivers took Virginia’s naming of April as Distracted Driving Month a little too literally. WTOP reports that plenty of motorists on commonwealth roads are still driving and texting or talking on their phones:
About four out of every 10 drivers passing through a work zone in Northern Virginia are on cellphones, according to a new survey of law enforcement officers in Northern Virginia.
On top of that, plenty of young drivers are guilty of distracted driving, showing that maybe government campaigns against it aren’t working very well:
According to a new, nationwide survey by Bridgestone Americas, Inc., many young drivers are aware of what distracted driving is but don’t think they’re at risk.
Bridgestone surveyed 2,000 drivers between the ages of 15 and 21 online. The results had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percent.
One-third of respondents admit to reading text messages while driving but two-thirds say they are “very safe drivers.”
Last December, the NTSB floated banning all cell phone use in cars. As part of the annual Street Smart campaign, D.C. police have been cracking down on cell phone use by drivers. And if they don’t catch you, well, Ray LaHood just might.
Martin Austermuhle