Distracted Driving Summit

Dear Secretary LaHood,

I have noticed with interest that your National Distracted Driving Summit is to be held on September 21st in Washington DC. I understand that transportation officials, safety advocates, law enforcement, industry representatives, researchers and victims will discuss distracted driving.

This is great politics — after all, who could possibly stand in the way of saving lives? But will it lead to great policy?

"Distracted driving" as a concept lends itself to oversimplification. Even the label is over simplified. Are we talking about distractions from personal technology? Distractions from talking passengers? Distractions from stress at work? Distractions from ... Back to article