The dangers of driving while distracted have recently been brought to the forefront of news and research as technology has become more mobile. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 25 percent of accidents involve some form of driver distraction, resulting in 5,870 deaths and more than 500,000 injuries in 2008.

Texting while driving would appear to be alarmingly prevalent, with 21 percent of drivers in a recent survey indicating that they have done so within the last month. Among less experienced teen drivers, that number more than doubles to 46 percent, and 51 percent admitted to cell phone use while driving.

The use of electronic devices while driving imperils not only the distracted drivers but all highway users. Those who are not distracted are victims of crashes caused by those who are.

For these reasons, the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, which I chair, held a joint hearing on Nov. 4 with the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection entitled “Driven to Distraction: Technological Devices and Vehicle Safety.”  The purpose of our hearing was to explore whether the problem is sufficiently egregious that a federal legislative response is now required and, if it is, what that response should be.

So far, 21 states and the District of Columbia ban all cell phone use by novice drivers including both hand held and hands free phones, and 18 states ban text messaging while driving. Our hearing not only discussed whether the time has arrived for federal legislation banning some or all of these practices but also if there is a role for the federal government in the public education campaign launched by the wireless industry to educate individuals about the dangers of distracted driving.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, who provided testimony at our hearing, has suggested an aggressive public education campaign similar to the highly successful one promoting the digital television transition.

Another witness at our hearing was Tom Dingus, the Director of Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute, which has performed excellent work in evaluating the safety issues associated with driver distraction and inattention. The Institute has done pioneering and nationally recognized work using naturalistic driving studies, through which sophisticated instrumentation is installed in vehicles for the continuous monitoring of driver behavior and performance.

There is little contention that cell phone usage causes distracted driving, and while states have begun to do their part to establish regulations, the relevant federal government agencies and committees will be monitoring the progress of these measures to adequately assess what, if any, the federal-level response should be.

Rick Boucher is Congressman for the 9th District of Virginia, which includes the New River Valley. You can catch his Capitol Commentary regularly at newrivervoice.com.