Here is solid statistical evidence that driving distractions are taking a toll. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research showed that approximately 17 percent of all police-reported crashes in 2010 involved a driver distraction, with 3 percent involving a device or control integral to the vehicle. On the industry side, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that commercial drivers reaching for an object like a cell phone are three times more likely to be involved in a crash or safety-critical event; dialing a hand-held cell phone raises the risk to six times more likely.
New distracted driving laws have passed with relative ease in 39 states. Nationally, the U.S. Department of Transportation finalized a rule in 2011 prohibiting four million commercial truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating vehicles. Individual violators can be fined and lose their licenses, and companies employing such drivers can be penalized up to $11,000 per violation.