It is estimated that the average time a driver’s eyes are off the road while texting is nearly 5 seconds, or about the length of a football field when traveling 55 mph. Texting while driving is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents and a texting driver is 23 times more likely to get into an accident than one who is not. Using a phone while driving causes about 30,000 crashes every year and 14% of all fatal crashes involve cell phone use – or about 400 fatalities annually. The estimated societal damage resulting from texting and driving is $129 billion annually including property damage and associated expenses. Over 84% of drivers recognize the danger from cell phone distractions and find it unacceptable that drivers text or send emails while driving. Even so, 36% of these same people admit to having read or sent a text message or e-mail while driving in the previous month.

Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.3677 - Distracted Driving Education Act of 2021
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL)

• I oppose reforming current texting while driving policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA) .
• I support directing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a distracted driving education grant program under which DOT may make grants to nonprofit organizations to provide education to the public regarding the risks of distracted driving, including texting while driving, and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.