Act to End Deadly Distractions

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Presented by the National Transportation Safety Board
in cooperation with Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety,
StopDistractions.org and University of Missouri


Watch the Roundtable on the NTSB YouTube Channel


 

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Highway crashes are a leading cause of death and injury nationwide, with nearly 10% of traffic fatalities
due to distracted driving.

In Missouri, in 2018, approximately 13.7% (or 21,058) of total reportable motor vehicle crashes involved distracted driving (driver distraction-inattention or cell phone use). According to MoDOT in 2018, there were 79 fatalities, 19,239 total crashes, 564 serious and 7,345 total injuries involving a distracted drivers. Distracted driving crashes are completely preventable!

Distraction is a growing and life-threatening problem not only involving drivers, but pedestrians and bicyclists
as well. Currently, 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands ban driver
use of cell phones for texting. That leaves just two states, Missouri and Montana to address the issue.
More solutions must be considered to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by distractions, including education, legislation, and enforcement.

Eliminate Distractions is on the NTSB 2019–2020 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements. Join the NTSB along with state and federal government officials, victim’s families, and other safety advocates to discuss strategies to prevent distracted driving.

This event will be webcast LIVE. A link to the livestream will be available a few days prior to the event.

contact: SafetyAdvocacy@ntsb.gov

Agenda:

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Download the list of panelists

8:30 am–9:00 am Meet and greet attendees and roundtable participants

9:00 am–9:05 am Welcome by University of Missouri Faculty - Dr. Praveen Edara, Chair, Civil & Environmental Engineering

9:05 am–9:15 am Opening remarks by Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg (introduction by Nicholas Worrell, NTSB Safety Advocacy)

9:15 am–9:20 am Remarks by Jennifer Smith (victim/family perspective)

9:20 am–9:25 am Remarks by MoDOT leadership

9:30 am–10:20 am Panel 1: State of Distracted Driving in Missouri

Missouri is one of just two states without a texting-and-driving ban for all drivers. In 2018, at least 79 people died in crashes involving distracted driving. In addition, cellphone-related crashes in Missouri are up 35 percent since 2014. We will discuss the statistics, trends, and recent passage of distracted driving laws in other states.

10:20 am–10:30 am Break

10:00 am–11:15 am Panel 2: Education, Legislation, and Enforcement

From education campaigns aimed at drivers to communitywide events, education and awareness mark the front line in the fight against distracted driving. We will focus on successful local and statewide initiatives and look at the role of advocates and community leaders in supporting law enforcement efforts to reduce distracted driving. We will also discuss the role supporting legislation plays in changing the statewide culture and enabling effective enforcement practices. Survivor advocates will share their experiences with investigative, criminal, and civil processes resulting from distraction-related crashes.

11:15 am–11:25 am Break

11:25 am–12:00 pm Panel 3: Corporate Policy and Regulation

Corporate policies can help mitigate distraction on our roads. Employers play a key role in ensuring drivers operate safely. We will highlight effective corporate policies in Missouri.

12:00 pm–12:20 pm Panel 4 final discussion (takeaways)

12:20 pm–12:30 pm Closing and call to action

12:30 pm Photo with group

12:45 pm–1:00 pm Press conference


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