TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft a resolution designating April 2010 as the Month of "No Texting While Driving" as a way to bring about important awareness of many dangerous consequences. More and more people are losing their lives or badly injured due to a significant increase in distracted driving.
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach Department joins AT&T in its effort to educate the general public about the danger of texting while driving. Although the State of California implemented a ban on texting while driving, all residents should be reminded that this law is still in effect. We must do all that we can to keep our residents focused on what seems to be an epidemic.
Just recently Oprah Winfrey had a show completely dedicated to informing her listeners of the tragedy that can come from texting while driving. She urged everyone to give up texting while driving.
According to a study conducted by Harvard Center of Risk Analysis, cell phone use contributes to 6 percent of all crashes, which equates 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, and 2600 deaths each year.
We all can remember the deadly train crash in Chatsworth, California which was caused by the engineer viewing a text message. As a result of his action 25 people lost their lives and more than 100 were injured.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMAN DEE ANDREWS
SIXTH DISTRICT