Contact: By: Congressman Mike Castle

Bethany Beach | June 8, 2010 - Summer is just around the corner, and for most Delawareans this means three things: sun, sand, and traffic. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, long lines of cars stretch as far as the eye can see along I-95, Route 1 and Route 13.

Unfortunately, more cars on the road often mean more injuries and fatalities caused by motor vehicle accidents. It is imperative that we stay vigilant to keep Delaware's roadways as safe as possible.

For teens, this time of year brings graduation season and higher numbers of learners' permits. Delaware's law requires teens to have a graduated driver's license, something I support requiring in all states. I have introduced legislation in Congress to make a graduated license the standard across the country. The Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act (H.R. 1895) implements a federal graduated driver's license law for teenage drivers, which could help save the lives of teen drivers and those who share the roads with them.

Distracted driving, which has quickly escalated to a deadly epidemic, is another life-threatening yet oft-overlooked practice we must address. While all forms of distracted driving are dangerous, the risk is highest when using electronic devices. Still, seven in 10 people between ages 18 and 49 readily admit that while aware of the danger, they remain reluctant to put down their gadgets and concentrate on the road.

There is a commonly held misconception that even I, until recently, held: if you are an experienced driver and only take your eyes off the road momentarily to dial a number, send a text, or enter an address into a GPS, you are in control. The truth is, taking your eyes off the road for even a second means you are not in control.

The science doesn't lie. I recently co-hosted a Congressional briefing sponsored by two leading advocacy organizations, the National Safety Council and FocusDriven. The facts were shocking. Anyone, regardless of age or experience, who attempts to "multi-task" by simultaneously driving and talking, texting, or checking GPS, increases their crash risk by a staggering 300 percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Compare that to two other leading causes of accidents: speeding (35 percent) and having a passenger in the vehicle (48 percent), and you begin to get a sense of the danger posed by distracted driving.

Sadly, the number of deaths and injuries is also telling. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research shows that various forms of distracted driving contribute to 6,000 preventable deaths and half a million injuries in the U.S. every year. To put this in perspective, more people die and are injured from distracted driving annually than could fill the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and Flyers stadiums five times over. But the victims are not merely statistics; they are our mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, grandparents and children.

The good news is that drivers can change their behaviors. For instance, drunken driving fatalities have decreased 14 percent nationwide and 12 percent in Delaware since 2008. And 84 percent of Americans buckle up when getting into a vehicle, versus 60 percent just a little more than a decade ago. Why? A blend of effective, enforceable laws and strategic public outreach.

Informed by these other early successes, many states have begun passing laws to curb distracted driving. I applaud the Delaware State House for joining six other states in passing a bill last month to ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving. This is a promising step in the right direction for Delaware.

By making responsible decisions and working together, we can ensure that we all reach our summer destinations safely.

Rep. Mike Castle serves on the House Education and Labor Committee, and is ranking member on the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. He has long been involved in safe driving issues. Recently, he was honored by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety as a Highway Safety Leader.

Compare that to two other leading causes of accidents: speeding (35 percent) and having a passenger in the vehicle (48 percent), and you begin to get a sense of the danger posed by distracted driving.

Sadly, the number of deaths and injuries is also telling. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research shows that various forms of distracted driving contribute to 6,000 preventable deaths and half a million injuries in the U.S. every year. To put this in perspective, more people die and are injured from distracted driving annually than could fill the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and Flyers stadiums five times over. But the victims are not merely statistics; they are our mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, grandparents and children.

The good news is that drivers can change their behaviors. For instance, drunken driving fatalities have decreased 14 percent nationwide and 12 percent in Delaware since 2008. And 84 percent of Americans buckle up when getting into a vehicle, versus 60 percent just a little more than a decade ago. Why? A blend of effective, enforceable laws and strategic public outreach.

Informed by these other early successes, many states have begun passing laws to curb distracted driving. I applaud the Delaware State House for joining six other states in passing a bill last month to ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving. This is a promising step in the right direction for Delaware.

By making responsible decisions and working together, we can ensure that we all reach our summer destinations safely.

Rep. Mike Castle serves on the House Education and Labor Committee, and is ranking member on the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. He has long been involved in safe driving issues. Recently, he was honored by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety as a Highway Safety Leader.