The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will conduct a study on the risks associated with cell phones, Internet devices, and other electronic distractions while driving.
About 25 percent of the 6.3 million accidents annually are caused by drivers distracted by other activities, according to a study by AAA and Network of Employers for Traffic Safety. A driver who takes his or her eyes off the road to insert a compact disc is six times more likely to have an accident than a driver who glances at the fuel gauge, says Tom Dingus, director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
Navigation systems, which provide audio and visual directions after drivers enter a destination, cause the greatest distraction, according to safety experts. The NHTSA says 44 percent of drivers have phones in their vehicles, 7 percent have e-mail access, and 3 percent can receive faxes.
The GM and Ford navigation systems don’t allow drivers to enter a destination while the vehicle is moving. Both manufacturers plan to offer systems that respond to voice commands in many 2001-model-year vehicles.