The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a safety alert on distracted driving following a recent investigation of a fatal crash in Wisconsin linked to cell phone use while driving.
The new safety alert outlines steps that drivers, passengers and message senders should take to avoid distracted driving, such as using “Do Not Disturb” or “Driving Focus” phone settings to prevent distraction while driving and not calling or texting someone you know is driving.
The NTSB is also reiterating its 2020 recommendation that cell phone manufacturers install lock-out mechanisms that automatically disable distracting features while driving.
The NTSB is also recommending that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration develop new driver distraction guidelines on the design of current in-vehicle, portable, and aftermarket electronic devices.
There were 64,979 crashes involving drivers using cell phones in 2023, resulting in 397 deaths.
