The number of people who died on America’s roads fell by 3,615 people, or 9.7%, in 2008 to 33,808 total last year, according to the Department of Transportation. This is the lowest number Americans have seen in 60 years. Surprisingly enough, the number of people killed in crashes involving driver distraction declined last year as well. However, the government has stated that distracted driving remains an epidemic for U.S. drivers in an era filled with cell phones and other electronic handheld devices that are becoming more and more frequent to use, even while behind the wheel for some.

The Department of Transportation announced that 5,474 Americans were killed in 2009 vehicle collisions that were discovered to involve distracted driving, which is a 6% decline from those killed in 2008. Distraction-related deaths accounted for 16% of all traffic fatalities in 2009, which is the same percentage as in 2008. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said this data could be the “tip of the iceberg” because many police reports do not document whether distraction was a factor in car crashes, making it difficult to understand the full scope of the problem.

LaHood worked on a second national summit about distracted driving that took place on Tuesday, September 21. He is one of many to take part in a recent movement to push the states to adopt tougher laws against sending text messages from behind the wheel and other forms of distracted driving. In Indiana, several bills that would outlaw text messaging while driving on the state’s roads failed to become law in 2010. Similarly, a ban on teenage drivers’ use of cell phones and texting devices went into effect in 2009. Indiana police have reportedly issued only three tickets under that law as of August 2010. This appears to be a law that needs to be more heavily enforced, as drivers under the age of 20 were the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes compared to people of other ages. LaHood plans to continue a campaign for American drivers to make it a habit to place their cell phones in the glove compartment before starting their vehicles.

Americans should be optimistic and proud of the decreases in overall traffic deaths and deaths resulting from distracted driving. With the increase in the amount of people who own and use electronic handheld devices, Americans must continue to be disciplined while driving by waiting to get out of their vehicles before using such devices.

Cline Farrell Christie Lee & Caress are personal injury attorneys in Indianapolis helping those who have been injured by a distracted driver or other type of traffic accident. Visit their website at www.cfclc-law.com for more information.