'No Phone Zone Day' to Highlight Dangers of Distracted Driving

04/08/2010

Distracted driving can hike up a consumer's auto insurance rates - or worse.

Nearly 6,000 Americans died as a result of this dangerous driving habit in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. With this in mind, Oprah Winfrey and Harpo Studios are teaming up with an array of transportation safety organizations to sponsor "No Phone Zone Day."

A special episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" airing this day will highlight the dangers of using a cell phone while driving. Viewing rallies will be held in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Boston, Detroit and Atlanta. Viewers who take the "No Phone Zone" pledge agree to not use phones while operating a vehicle.

"I’ve made it my mission at the DOT to end distracted driving," Ray Lahood, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, said. "We must know that if we can get people to put away cell phones and other electronic devices when they are behind the wheel, we can save thousands of lives and prevent hundreds of thousands of injuries every year."

In addition to cell phone use, driving distractions include eating, drinking, talking to other passengers, grooming and more.

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