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We’re hearing it more and more often: Don’t text and drive. Despite all the campaigns, and even the star power (Oprah, Jordin Sparks, Justin Bieber, etc.) behind the message, too many of us feel these warnings just don’t really apply. Valetta Bradford, a Wisconsin mother, might disagree. In 2010, Bradford nearly lost her five-year-old son, Xzavier, who was paralyzed after being struck by a distracted driver while he was crossing the street.
Young Xzavier is just one victim of a moment’s distraction on the part of a driver, who may have given in to the temptation to glance at his or her cellphone for just an instant, with long-lasting consequences. Xzavier’s story is part of a campaign launched by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, www.dot.gov, called The Faces of Distracted Driving, which urges the public to “Hear the stories. Get the message.”
During the month of April—National Distracted Driving Awareness Month—the anti-distracted-driving message is being championed by a number of organizations, including Connected World magazine and The Peggy Smedley Show.
This week on The Peggy Smedley Show, www.peggysmedleyshow.com, a weekly radio show dedicated to covering the M2M (machine-to-machine) and connected-devices industry, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation’s Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood made his case, saying there are four keys to reducing distracted driving: education and personal responsibility, legislation and enforcement.
While texting is not the only culprit behind what LaHood refers to as the distracted-driving “epidemic” sweeping our country, spreading the word about the dangers of cellphone use is his No. 1 priority. Distraction can be defined as any activity that takes our eyes off the road, our hands off the wheel, or our minds off the task at hand.
It is the view of some that the use of hands-free technologies in the vehicle can help reduce the number of distracted-driving-related incidences by helping to control two of these three variables—eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
Michael Metcalf, chairman and CEO of Voice Assist, www.voiceassist.com, is an advocate against the use of handheld devices behind the wheel. As a result, Metcalf has helped develop a hands-free solution that allows drivers to perform a number of functions—including sending texts and making calls—using just voice commands.
Announced this week on The Peggy Smedley Show, Voice Assist is partnering with Connected World magazine to help spread the word about the dangers of using devices irresponsibly while driving. To join the cause, visit www.peggysmedleyshow.com and click the “Pledge Now” button to take the safe-driving pledge. Voice Assist is offering a 30-day free trial of its technology to anyone willing to step up to the plate.
At this year’s Connected World Conference, June 11-13 in St. Charles, Ill., there will be dedicated distracted-driving pavilion to help further these efforts. Take the pledge. Spread the word. Help stop distracted driving.
To listen to Ray LaHood’s interview on The Peggy Smedley Show in its entirety, visit: http://peggysmedleyshow.com/index.php?q=node/1144 |
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