Distracted drivers draw attention

Does this story sound familiar?

Thirteen-year-old girl struck and killed by a drunken driver. Devastated mother rattles lawmakers with aggressive effort to send the message that drinking and driving is unacceptable. Campaign sees unforeseen success. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities drop from 30,000 to 17,000 in two decades.

This organization was formed by mothers and they were MADD.

Now I'd like to introduce you to Jennifer Smith. She is a daughter who no longer has a mother. In 2008, Smith's mother was killed when a driver talking on a cell phone sped through a red light and broadsided her car. Smith and a handful of other Americans whose lives have been shattered by distracted motorists are taking aim at legislators.

Nevada legislators need no lengthy introduction or details. I predict that soon enough they'll have plenty of face time with FocusDriven, the country's first nonprofit organization to target distracted drivers.

Our lawmakers also might receive an earful from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who vowed last week to pester states that haven't bothered to pass any type of law banning cell phone use or text messaging while driving.

LaHood is none too happy with legislators who have not acknowledged this deadly habit.

"We're not going to sit back and wait for Congress. We're moving ahead," LaHood said. "We're on a rampage about this, and we'll continue to be. There is an army of people that will travel the countryside persuading legislators."

Ah, ah, ah, Nevada lawmakers, I can hear the excuses now: Laws of this nature are too difficult to enforce and opponents claim such legislation violates motorists' rights.

Allow me to forewarn you that while Nevadans might accept those excuses, LaHood and members of FocusDriven aren't going to buy them.

"Difficult to enforce? We're not going to let difficulties like that get in the way," LaHood said. "We're not. We'll figure it out."

LaHood envisions this newest movement gaining the notoriety that the so-called "point-08" campaign gathered after its introduction. Some states' penalties for driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 and above include a mandatory five-day stay in the pokey. Residents in states with harsher punishments are more likely to police themselves, he said.

It's up to the state's legislators to take a strong stand against behavior that endangers others.

"If you take somebody's driving permit away for three months or you if you have to sit in jail ... people will eventually get it," LaHood said. "But Ray LaHood is not going to set the fine. We're not setting penalties at DOT (Department of Transportation)."

FocusDriven has collected statistics. It said that of 1.6 million crashes caused by cell phone-using motorists; about 1.4 million are talking and the rest are texting.

Because talking on your cell phone or texting while driving is not a citable offense in Nevada, authorities do not keep such statistics in our state.

Janet Froetscher, president of the National Safety Council, said it's time states such as ours start taking the issue more seriously.

"The impact these crashes have on the lives of loved ones and the ones around them is unbelievable," she said. "They're preventable and for us not to stop them is absolutely unforgivable."

During the next legislative session, Nevada lawmakers will likely hear from the same lineup of characters -- insurance companies, traffic enforcement officers -- who have supported the last three bills that were torpedoed. But expect a new slugger in the cleanup spot. Sooner rather than later, FocusDriven and LaHood will take a swing at our lawmakers.

"This issue will be addressed and lots of lives will be saved," LaHood said. "We're on our way. Watch out for these people."

If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at 702-387-2904, or send an e-mail to roadwarrior@reviewjournal .com. Please include your phone number.