Work-related distracted driving a problem on I-95 Express Lanes
The number of frequent I-95 drivers in Northern Virginia likely to use their cell phone while driving has increased from 56 percent last year to 62 percent in 2014. The report by Transurban-Fluor and The American Automobile Association/Mid-Atlantic Division is part of a campaign to reduce distracted driving in the Express Lanes construction zone. Transurban-Fluor is a consortium that pays for operation and maintenance of the Express Lanes.
Itês commonsense and distressingly factual that distracted driving leads to more accidents. The number of distracted drivers on I-95 who have had a traffic incident or near-miss as a result of their behavior has increased from 23 percent in 2013 to 31 percent in 2014. The report is based on a survey of 1,023 drivers who live in Northern Virginia and frequently travel the I-95 Express Lanes.
More than half of the distracted drivers say they are at least occasionally responding to a work-related problem. The work responders are 10 percent more likely than non-work responders to have an incident or near miss behind the wheel. Despite the dangers, just 18 percent of area drivers say their employers have policies on the use of cell phones while driving.
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