Riley Hospital Applauds Unanimous Vote on HB1279 Banning Texting While Driving

01/27/2010

INDIANAPOLIS - Officials at Riley Hospital for Children applaud today's unanimous vote by House committee members on House Bill 1279 making it illegal to text or email while driving.

Since 2007, Riley Hospital has reminded motorists to slow down, stay alert and remain focused while driving through its Kids dart. Drive smart. grassroots, child safety campaign.

The 2009 Kids dart. Drive smart. campaign was unique because it incorporated a distracted driving message, including talking and/or texting while driving, due to the increasing use of cell phones on the road. The message - BTW dont txt & drive TYVM - was visible on billboards and advertisements, promoted via the Kids dart. Drive smart. Facebook® Fan Page with more than 2,200 members, and also heard via radio spots.

A 2007 study by the Automobile Association of America discovered that 46% of teens admitted to being distracted behind the wheel due to texting. Additionally, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, cell phone use, because it occurs repeatedly and for long periods of time, is the number one source of driver distraction - and the cause of 80 percent of crashes. In fact, drivers are four times more likely to be in a crash while using a cell phone, that's just as likely as someone with a blood alcohol content of .08.

"We realize this is just the first step, but are obviously pleased the committee members unanimously voted for House Bill 1279,"said Joseph O'Neil, MD, MPH, developmental pediatrician, Riley Hospital for Children and associate professor of pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine. "It's important for the entire community to remember that we all play a crucial role in eliminating unnecessary injuries and deaths caused by distracted driving."

About Riley Hospital for Children
As one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals and Indiana’s first and only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, Riley Hospital for Children, a part of Clarian Health, has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families for 85 years. Each year, Riley Hospital and Riley Hospital at Clarian North serve over 215,000 inpatients and outpatients from across Indiana, the nation and the world. Riley Hospital’s partnership with Clarian Health, and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine, makes it the only comprehensive clinical resource for Indiana’s children and the premiere source for health-related information for their parents. From simple care associated with the health and wellness of children and less complex specialty care to the most critically-ill and medically complex cases, Riley Hospital for Children is a national leader. Clarian Health operates the Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children campuses as a single hospital under Indiana law. Visit Riley Hospital for Children for more information.