Sharon Schreiber: Pull Over, Get Off the Cell Phone … And Join the Fight for Road Safety

• More Americans die each year from cell phone distractions than have been killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined. In 2008, close to 6000 people were killed as a result of distracted driving-related motor vehicle crashes.   

Twelve-year-old Joe was on his way to an after school activity with his mother when a young woman talking on her cell phone ran a red light and crashed into their vehicle, killing Joe. He was one of the thousands of Americans killed each year by distracted drivers. Joe's Story

But people are taking a stand against distracted driving. Because orthopedic surgeons provide healing for many survivors of traumatic motor vehicle injuries, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA) launched the Decide to Drive initiative. The campaign urges people to decide to drive each and every time they get behind the wheel.

Fox Valley Orthopedic Institute (FVOI) is dedicated to educating patients and the general public on how even simple distractions behind the wheel are a serious threat to the safety of driver, passengers, and pedestrians, and is developing community partnerships to address distracted driving at a grassroots level.

The Decide to Drive campaign brings awareness to the fact that actions can have life-altering consequences. This may seem like a no-brainer, but the shocking results of a recent interactive study of more than 1500 American drivers conducted by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) showed that while many people admit to engaging in distracted driving, eighty-three percent believe that it’s not them, but others who are responsible for all the distracted driving accidents.”

Dr. Rodney W. Rieger, a surgeon at FVOI, is very concerned about distracted driving – especially where teens are concerned – citing Car and Driver Magazine statistics: texting increases accident risk by twenty-three times, 5.7 times greater than drunk driving. Since the average young driver texts seventy times a day and ninety percent of teens admit to texting while driving, there is plenty of cause for alarm.

A surgeon who has repaired the damage done by distracted driving in his own practice, Dr. Rieger is a staunch advocate for Decide to Drive.

“The myth of multi-tasking has led people to believe they can focus on several things at once, but this is not so,” says Dr. Rieger. “I’ve seen drivers do everything from apply make-up, shave, and floss their teeth, to tend children in the back seat and talk on their cells. Yet studies clearly show we’re unable to focus on driving when we’re talking on the phone or otherwise distracted.”

The Geneva police department and the Kane County Sheriff's Department are among the first to partner with FVOI to educate the community about AAOS’s national Decide to Drive campaign. 

“In Illinois, there is a total ban on all handheld and hands-free cell phone use for drivers under 19 except for emergencies, and a texting ban for all drivers,” says Steve Mexin Geneva’s chief of police. “But this is a difficult issue for us to enforce. Change happens through education and awareness.”

"An estimated 25% of all crashes are due to distracted driving, but in reality I expect this number is higher," said Sergeant Craig Campbell, Kane County Sheriff's Department, who reconstructs crash scenes.  "We are proud to partner with Fox Valley Orthopedics to increase awareness. Education, legislation, and enforcement are key to making an impact on distracted driving."  

Currently, the National Safety Council is seeking a statewide ban, pushing the General Assembly to pass laws that makes negligent driving resulting in fatalities a misdemeanor.

For more information on getting involved with Fox Valley Orthopedics local efforts contact Mary O'Brien, chief executive officer at 630-584-1400.  For more information on “Decide to Drive,” visit http://www.decidetodrive.org

ABOUT FOX VALLEY ORTHOPEDICS

Fox Valley Orthopedics Institute was founded in 1973 in Geneva, IL for the purpose of providing exceptional comprehensive orthopedic care in an environment that puts patients first. As a recognized leader in orthopedics, the practice is the first group in the area to offer fellowship-trained physicians and surgeons experienced in joint replacement, sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery, shoulder surgery, hand and arm surgery, foot and ankle surgery, spine surgery, pain management, rheumatology, and pediatric orthopedic care. The Institute also includes CoSport physical therapy, an ambulatory surgery center, and an advanced imaging center. Dedicated to the community, Fox Valley Orthopedics provides athletic trainers in many local high schools and is the official team physician group for the Kane County Cougars. The practice serves communities throughout Chicago with offices in Geneva, Elgin, and Naperville. For more information, go to http://www.fvortho.com

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