Latest news with #MarkChung
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NSC Warns of Increased Traffic Fatality Risk During Memorial Day Weekend
NSC urges drivers to prioritize safety as holiday travel increases risk WASHINGTON, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Safety Council estimates 443 people may die in preventable traffic crashes during the 2025 Memorial Day holiday period. This represents a 6% increase from 2024's estimate, highlighting ongoing safety challenges during high-traffic holiday periods. "Memorial Day weekend typically brings increased traffic and higher risks for drivers," said Mark Chung, vice president of safety leadership and advocacy at NSC. "The good news is that we've had a slight decrease in yearly fatalities, but the bad news is that we are still in a crisis, seeing nearly 120 people die on our roadways daily." Tips for a safer holiday weekend: Drive defensively: Buckle up, designate a sober driver, get enough sleep and avoid distractions. Prepare your vehicle: Check tires, oil and repair any open recalls at Avoid impairment: Remember both alcohol and drugs, including prescription medications, can impair driving ability. Monitor speed: Drive at or below posted limits and adjust for weather and traffic conditions. Stay focused: Put phones away and minimize distractions while driving. Check back seats: Always look before locking your vehicle to ensure no children or pets remain inside. Support safety initiatives: Visit to join efforts to eliminate roadway fatalities. Review supplemental information about the Memorial Day holiday fatality estimates and additional motor vehicle data at About the National Safety CouncilThe National Safety Council is America's leading nonprofit safety advocate – and has been for over 110 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace and roadways. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives. Connect with NSC:FacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTubeInstagram View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE National Safety Council
Axios
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Axios
Distracted driving adds to Indiana's traffic fatality rate
Distracted driving is a pervasive problem on American roadways, and Indiana is among the states cracking down in recent years. Why it matters: Around 3,300 people died nationwide in crashes attributed to distracted driving in 2022, while another 289,000 were injured, according to the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data. More than 62,000 crashes involved distracted cellphone use in 2022 alone, NHTSA says. These stats likely underestimate the problem because crash data often relies on self-reporting, National Safety Council executive vice president of safety leadership and advocacy Mark Chung tells Axios. Flashback: Indiana passed a law in 2020 prohibiting holding or using a mobile device while driving. Violating Indiana's hands-free driving law is a Class C infraction, which carries a fine of up to $500. Before that, Indiana had a law banning texting and driving, but the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals deemed it unenforceable in 2016 because of difficulty determining if a driver was texting. Reality check: The 2020 legislation has not curbed rising fatal highway crashes. Indiana recorded 897 highways fatalities in 2020, 932 in 2021 and 949 in 2022. By the numbers: According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI), police across the state issued 18,887 hands free citations in 2024, a new high and the third consecutive annual increase. 14,582 citations were issued in 2022, and 14,957 were issued in 2023. Marion County leads the state in share of citations. Threat level: The Indiana Department of Transportation says on average, people who text and drive take their attention away from the road for five seconds at a time. At 55 mph, that is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field blindfolded. Between the lines: Despite the panic over recent flying incidents, roadway fatalities dwarf air fatalities every year. State of play: As part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Indiana law enforcement agencies spent two weeks in April participating in a traffic enforcement campaign focused on stopping distracted drivers and speeders. State officials say distracted driving and speeding caused more than 17,000 crashes and 230 deaths across Indiana in 2024. What they're saying:"Distracted driving isn't just risky, it's deadly," ICJI traffic safety director James Bryan said in a statement. "Taking your eyes off the road for even just a few seconds can change a life forever. No text, call or notification is worth the cost of a crash." The big picture: U.S. traffic deaths per 100,000 people peaked in the 1930s and total deaths peaked in 1972, then gradually declined thanks to vehicle improvements, better infrastructure and public safety campaigns. But the rate of crash deaths started rising again about a decade ago, spiking during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bottom line: "A lot of us feel like we can multitask, but we know from studies that there's no such thing as multitasking," Chung says. "The human brain does not allow for it."
Axios
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Axios
Texas has the second-highest number of fatal crashes nationwide
Distracted driving is a pervasive problem on American roadways, especially in Texas. Why it matters: About 3,300 people died and over 289,000 were injured nationwide in crashes attributed to distracted driving in 2022, according to the latest available National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data. The intrigue: These stats likely underestimate the problem because crash data often relies on drivers self-reporting their distractions to law enforcement, National Safety Council (NSC) executive VP of safety leadership and advocacy Mark Chung tells Axios. Zoom in: Overall, Texas had the second-highest number (4,408) of deadly crashes nationwide in 2022. Distracted driving was the No. 2 cause of fatal crashes, per the state Department of Transportation. The rate of overall traffic deaths was 14.6 per 100,000 Texans, the 10th highest rate in the country. It's illegal to read, write or send a text message while driving in Texas. The big picture: U.S. traffic deaths per 100,000 people peaked in the 1930s and total deaths peaked in 1972, then gradually declined thanks to vehicle improvements, better infrastructure and public safety campaigns. But the rate of crash deaths started rising again about a decade ago, spiking during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2022 was still in the late pandemic era, and it's unclear whether things may have changed since then. Between the lines: Despite the panic over recent flying incidents, roadway fatalities dwarf air fatalities every year.
Axios
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Axios
Traffic fatalities fall in Michigan, but distractions abound
Distracted driving is a pervasive problem on American roadways, and Michigan is among states cracking down in recent years. Why it matters: Around 3,300 people died nationwide in crashes attributed to distracted driving in 2022, while another 289,000 were injured, according to the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data. Over 62,000 crashes involved distracted cellphone usage in 2022 alone, NHTSA says. These stats likely underestimate the problem because crash data often relies on self-reporting, National Safety Council (NSC) executive vice president of safety leadership and advocacy Mark Chung tells Axios. Zoom in: Michigan's law prohibiting cellphone use while driving went into effect in June 2023, with a $100 fine and/or 16 hours of community service for the first violation. Michigan recorded 15,136 vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver in 2023, the most recent year available, resulting in 59 deaths, a state police spokesperson told Axios in an email, citing Michigan Traffic Crash Facts. In 2022, before the law was in place, there were 15,441 crashes involving a distracted driver and 57 deaths. More time is likely needed to assess the law's efficacy. Zoom out: Nearly all states ban texting while driving, per the Governors Highway Safety Association, though enforcement rules differ. The big picture: U.S. traffic deaths per 100,000 people peaked in the 1930s, and total deaths peaked in 1972, then gradually declined thanks to vehicle improvements, better infrastructure and public safety campaigns.
Axios
11-04-2025
- Automotive
- Axios
Ohio is cracking down on distracted driving
Distracted driving is a pervasive problem on American roads, and Ohio is one of many states cracking down. Why it matters: Around 3,300 people died nationwide in crashes attributed to distracted driving in 2022, while another 289,000 were injured, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data. Over 62,000 crashes involved distracted cellphone usage in 2022 alone, NHTSA says. These stats likely underestimate the problem because crash data often relies on drivers self-reporting their distractions to law enforcement, National Safety Council (NSC) executive VP of safety leadership and advocacy Mark Chung tells Axios. Zoom in: In Ohio, a 2023 law made it a primary offense to use handheld electronics while driving. Dozens of distracted driving citations are issued every day, per state patrol data. Fatal and serious injury crashes are down 22% thus far in 2025 compared to this time last year. What they're saying:"We're certainly seeing less distracted driving than before the law went into effect, but we still have a long way to go," Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement. Zoom out: This month, Iowa became the 31st state to prohibit any handheld cellphone usage behind the wheel, with Gov. Kim Reynolds saying: "This legislation will save lives." Nearly all U.S. states ban texting while driving, per the Governors Highway Safety Association, though their enforcement rules differ. Between the lines: Despite the panic over recent flying incidents, road fatalities dwarf air fatalities every single year.
