Orthopaedic surgeons launch campaign against distracted driving

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) have announced their members' commitment to end the distracted driving problem in America. This national initiative, made possible, in part, with support from the Auto Alliance, encourages drivers to 'decide to drive' and includes a new multimedia public service advertising (PSA) campaign, interactive Web site, school curriculum, print public service poster contest and materials to help surgeons talk to all thei
May 21, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
The 5639 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the 5640 Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) have announced their members' commitment to end the distracted driving problem in America. This national initiative, made possible, in part, with support from the Auto Alliance, encourages drivers to ‘decide to drive’ and includes a new multimedia public service advertising (PSA) campaign, interactive Web site, school curriculum, print public service poster contest and materials to help surgeons talk to all their patients about distracted driving.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's 834 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving, which includes distractions of all kinds, injures more than a half of a million people each year. Orthopaedic surgeons are the medical doctors who put bones and limbs back together after traumatic injuries, including road crashes. That's why the membership and leaders of these organisations have come together to launch this initiative and urge people to decide to drive each and every time they get behind the wheel.

Survey results reveal how American drivers feel about multitasking, their own behavior behind the wheel as well as the choices of other drivers.

  • Of the more than 1,500 driving-age adults surveyed, none of them reported their own driving as unsafe. In fact, 83 per cent claim to drive safely. And, yet they believe only 10 per cent of other drivers drive ‘safely.’
  • Although drivers are aware that distracted driving compromises the ability of others to drive safely, one in five (20 per cent) agree that they are a good enough driver that they can do other things while driving without compromising [their driving ability].
  • Among those who self-reported distracted driving behaviours overall, 30-44 year olds seem to be the worst offenders having more likely admitted to eating or drinking, talking on a cell phone or reaching in the back seat of the car while driving.
  • Many drivers that have experienced a near-accident due to their own distracted driving behaviour say they will continue the behaviour that caused them to swerve or slam on the breaks to avoid an accident.
  • The results showed that 94 per cent of drivers in America believe that distracted driving is a problem in the US and 89 per cent believe it is a problem within their own communities.

"Drivers need to think about their own choices behind the wheel because the injuries we see and treat are life-changing. Our goal is to get all drivers who are used to 'getting away with it' to learn now – not later the hard way – that it isn't worth it," said Andrew N. Pollak, M.D, president of the OTA.

Related Content

  • Multi-tasking at the wheel a potentially fatal myth, finds IAM
    November 20, 2015
    Expert psychologists have concluded that multi-tasking whilst driving is a myth – and the most dangerous of those driving multi-tasks is texting and talking on a mobile phone, according to a new report produced by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL). The research focuses on the dangers involved when drivers try and engage in more than one task, indicating this can have a ‘detrimental’ effect on the quality and accuracy of driving performance. The find
    Read More
  • e-Call emergency service doesn't go far enough
    January 30, 2012
    eCall misses the point and is only a tacit acknowledgement that the road safety issue has not yet been adequately addressed, according to FEMA's Aline Delhaye. According to the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA), the European Commission's (EC's) ambitions for eCall implementation are premature and fail to take account of all road users' needs or of technological progress elsewhere.
    Read More
  • Driver error cited in 117,000+ road accident casualties
    October 12, 2015
    Analysis by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has found that human factors continue to significantly outweigh other reasons for crashes on British roads, and have called again for drivers to look on improving driving skills as part of their lifelong personal development. The figures from the Department of Transport show that in 2014 driver/rider error or reaction were cited as contributory factors in 74 per cent of accidents, involving more than 117,000 casualties. Some 20,830 of these were in Lo
    Read More
  • Study finds support for toll express lanes, less for mileage charges
    September 16, 2013
    A new report by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (MWCOG) finds that support for a toll managed lanes network grows somewhat the more it is discussed, whereas a vehicle miles travelled charge loses support after discussion. Among 300 people who participated in five-hour moderated small group discussions of alternative ways of dealing with traffic congestion in the Washington DC metro area, toll express lanes on all major highways receiv
    Read More

Highlighted Content