Focus
This presentation is made possible through a grant from the
Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA).
This presentation is dedicated to those who have lost their lives and provided the motivation for the creation of
this program.
Which one kills more?


Gun
Automobile
Comparison

.357 sig round
o 125 grain
o Weight - 8.1 grams
o Velocity – 1,430 ft. per second (975 MPH)
o Knock Down Power - 568 ft. pounds
Average American Automobile

Mid-Size Sedan
o 6.5 ft. wide 14 ft. long
o Weight – 4,200 pounds
o Velocity - 103 feet per second (70 MPH)
o Knock Down Power - 294,000 ft. pounds
The Most effective Killing Machine Known to Man
The American Automobile!
 32,367 vehicle occupants were killed in 2011
o Same as 1 Airline Crash
o Killing 89 passengers daily
Driving requires very little skill!
True or False?
How do you define driving?

Moving a vehicle from one place to another
Safe Operation?

Controlling the complete operation:
o Visual
o Manual
o Cognitive
Society’s Attitude on Traffic Laws

Speed
o 70 Miles per hour
 50% chance of surviving the crash
o 90 Miles per hour
 Less than 10% chance of survival
o 35 mile trip at 70 miles per hour
 30 minutes
 35 mile trip at 90 miles per hour
o 22 ½ minutes
Distracted Driving
Reports indicate most crashes involve some type of distraction.
2009 Word of the year (Webster’s Dictionary) “Distracted Driving”
An Epidemic
A Menace to Society
Take personal responsibility
Ray LaHood US Transportation Secretary
Distracting Activities
Eating and Drinking
Grooming
Reading
Navigation Systems
Changing Radio Stations
MP-3 Players
Changing CD’s
Cell Phones and PDA’s
Texting While Driving
 One of the most dangerous distractions
o Involves three driving distractions
 Visual
 Manual
 Cognitive
Driving is Serious Business!
Ask Yourself
Would You?
Have You?
Will You Continue?
Texas Must Get Serious!
What is Important to You?