Stamping Out Distracted Driving in Massachusetts

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• Technology
• Airwide Solutions

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   Legislation poised to ban both texting and cell phone use while driving in Massachusetts has created quite a buzz state-wide over the last week.  Following on the heels of California’s new law that bans both texting and talking while driving, Massachusetts will join the ranks of six other U.S. states, and Washington D.C., imposing talking or texting bans, if the legislation is passed.

   This news is especially noteworthy to us at Burlington-based Airwide Solutions, since we’re the company that sent the first ever text message in Europe, and we work directly with mobile carriers and provide technology that enables text messaging.

   With more mobile users accessing information, texting, and personalizing their mobile handsets with apps and other services, it’s critical to remind ourselves that distracted driving can be deadly and mobile technology should be used in the right context, at the right time.  A survey recently released by mobile application vendor Vlingo found that 26 percent of mobile phone users questioned admit to driving while texting.  Driving while texting is now fully banned in seven states as well as Washington D.C., and partially banned in select states.

   According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driver inattention is a leading cause of traffic crashes, responsible for about 80 percent of all collisions. Because crashes are the number-one cause of accidental death in the U.S., it’s important to revisit the issue and stamp out poor driving habits.

   To that end, we’ve compiled a list of helpful resources, tips, and safe driving associations from which we can all benefit. Let’s all take action and promote safe use of our mobile phones!

   • The Official Website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=mg2homepage&L=1&L0=Home&sid=massgov2
   • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:  http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov
   • The National Safety Council:  http://www.nsc.org/resources/issues/distracted_driving.aspx
   • State Cell Phone Laws, Governors Highway Safety Association: http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html
   • Association for Safe International Road Travel: http://www.asirt.org/
   • AARP Driver Safety Program: http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/

    

    

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