AAA Offers 10-Point Action Plan to Combat Distracted Driving

    WASHINGTON--May 8, 2001--Following the release of a new study on distracted driving funded by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, AAA announced today its plan for addressing the issue of distracted driving.
    AAA will also testify on distracted driving before a House Congressional subcommittee Wednesday. In its 10-point action plan, AAA lays out plans to educate its 44 million members, motorists, policy makers, educators, corporate leaders, manufacturers and employees about the dangers of distracted driving, and how to manage distractions in the vehicle.
    "Education is the key to helping the public recognize and manage distractions while driving," said Mark Edwards, Ph.D., AAA managing director of AAA Traffic Safety. "We will also encourage manufacturers to design the least distracting devices possible and emphasize to Congress the need for funding of necessary research."

    In its "10-Point Action Plan", AAA pledged to:

1) Launch a national education campaign. AAA kicks off its campaign
    this week by offering the free educational brochure "Drive Safer,
    Talk Later -- A Guide to Cell Phones and Driving".

2) Work with state departments of motor vehicles to educate novice
    drivers. AAA will work with state departments of motor vehicles to
    ensure beginning drivers understand the dangers of distracted
    driving.

3) Test telematics devices. Work with international motor clubs to
    develop a protocol to test the distractability of in-vehicle
    devices.

4) Develop voluntary safety standards for telematics devices.
    Encourage manufacturers to adopt standards for in-vehicle
    communication devices.

5) Collaborate with policy makers. AAA will testify at a
    congressional hearing on distracted driving Wednesday in the House
    of Representatives. AAA will also promote educational remedies to
    state and local policy makers.

6) Encourage new research. AAA will encourage the National Highway
    Traffic Safety Administration and other safety organizations to
    conduct further research to better understand the effects of
    distractions on drivers.

7) Disseminate current research. Work with the AAA Foundation for
    Traffic Safety to disseminate the results of its driver
    distraction study and communicate the results of other new studies
    to policy makers and the public.

8) Revise AAA driver training manuals. Incorporate instruction on
    driver distractions into driver education programs to include
    novice driver, driver improvement and older-driver programs.

9) Encourage corporations to educate their employees and customers.
    AAA will work with its partners in the traffic safety community to
    disseminate safety information to employers.

10) Educate AAA employees. Communicate regularly with some 43,600 AAA
    and CAA employees across North America by convening regional
    employee forums and through internal publications.