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Knowing and understanding the cause of a problem is fundamental to finding the solution to whatever the trouble may be.
There is trouble on America's highways: far too many crashes and fatalities.
Now, a new government study, said to be a landmark because of the way it was done and the results it revealed, identifies the cause of most wrecks. 80-percent - that's eight out of 10 crashes - result from driver inattention within three-seconds of the event.
And what's distracting the drivers?
Cell phones! Reading! Applying makeup! Drowsiness!
No real surprise in those results. They're things seen everyday on our highways. In fact, it's a wonder more accidents don't occur, considering the number of motorists who engage in distracting activities while behind the wheel.
The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration head who released the study results said, "It's crucial that drivers always be alert on the road."
Such understatement!
It's more than crucial! It is often a matter of life and death.
Now, society has another problem - somehow convincing motorists to avoid distractions, indeed, to always be alert while driving. And that, in KSL's view, requires individual evaluation of personal driving habits . . . and a commitment by everyone who drives a motor vehicle to do it more attentively.
