Pediatric Trauma Program launches holiday PSA against hazards of texting while driving

The Pediatric Trauma Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles is launching a holiday public service announcement focusing on the hazards of texting while driving in an effort to reduce injuries and death across the Southland. Media are welcome to link to the PSA on the Children's Hospital Los Angeles YouTube Channel. Go to: www.Bit.ly/TextingPSA.

Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increases the risk of crashing.

Research on distracted driving reveals some surprising facts:

• Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it's hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)
• In 2008, almost 20 percent of all crashes in the year involved some type of distraction. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - NHTSA)
• Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than 500,000 were injured. (NHTSA)

There are three main types of distraction:

• Visual — taking your eyes off the road
• Manual — taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive — taking your mind off what you're doing

While all distractions can endanger drivers' safety, texting is the most alarming because it involves all three types of distraction.

SOURCE Children's Hospital Los Angeles