Distracted Driving Now an "Epidemic"

The Loudoun Times reports that distracted driving has reached the epidemic level.

"About 56 percent of drivers use their cell phones while driving, according to a recent survey of drivers who regularly drive through the Virginia section of the Capital Beltway, where the high-occupancy toll lanes are under construction.

"One in four of the 1,000 respondents said they read or write text messages while driving, and 50 percent of those respondents said they had an accident or near miss because of texting while driving.

The Times reports that "AAA Mid-Atlantic and HOT lanes builders Fluor-Transurban conducted the survey as part of a public awareness campaign to get people to put their cell phones down. The campaign -- “Orange cones. No Phones.” -- includes radio and online ads, as well as distributing educational material to schools and employers."

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