Healthy Living

Over the holiday weekend, there was some good news to report on Connecticut roadways: There was a significant decrease in arrests and tickets related to driving under the influence, seat belt violations, speeding and other moving violations.

This might very well have to do with the many efforts aimed at educating the public. For many, the messages have finally sunk in. You just don’t see as many people driving under the influence or not wearing their seat belts.

For the most part, we have seen this trend at The William W. Backus Hospital as well. As Trauma Program Manager, the statistics do seem to show a decrease in car crashes related to these reckless behaviors.

Unfortunately, there is one area where the news isn’t so good. We continue to see many people hospitalized and/or injured due to distracted driving. Whether it is talking on the phone, sending a text or even drinking a cup of coffee, these behaviors continue to cause tragedy on our roads.

Nationally, approximately 40 percent of teens report being in a car at some point with a driver using a cell phone. And as cell phones have moved into the age of smart phones with texting and internet access, the temptations have only increase.

What can we do about this?

First, all of us must continue to do our best to educate young people on the dangers of distracted driving.

In recent years, we have modified our Be Aware program at Backus to include this message. Previously, this program focused only on showing teens the dangers of driving under the influence, speeding and seat belts.

But distracted driving can be just as deadly. Some of the worst crashes – and major tragedies – I have seen in recent years are related to distracted driving.

It all starts with educating our youth, combined with laws banning cell phone use while driving and enforcement. We need distracted driving to be taken as seriously as other moving violations. Lives depend on it.

Gillian Mosier is a registered nurse and manager of the Backus Trauma Program. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Mosier or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org