Distracted driving has become deadly driving

At any given time, there are probably more distracted drivers on the road than drunk drivers. But unless a distracted driver kills someone, they are most likely walking away from a crash with just a ticket, KIRO Radio’s Don O’Neill pointed out.

“I don’t think we take distracted driving seriously enough,” Don said.

The discussion over distracted drivers was sparked by a four-vehicle collision that blocked northbound Interstate 5 for at least an hour Tuesday. A man reaching for his phone slammed his truck into the back of sedan, the man’s truck caught fire. Minor injuries were reported.

The man should have left his phone on the floor, Don said. In the morning, traffic can come to a complete stop without warning.

Distracted driving is more deadly for everyone than drunk driving, Don said, citing studies. There may be some drunk drivers in the morning, but far more are sober and looking at their phones, he said.

“We have to look at it differently, because distracted driving has become deadly driving,” Don said.

The reason laws against distracted driving are more relaxed is because lawmakers can relate to it, KIRO Radio’s Ron Upshaw told Don. So when they’re crafting a law, they think “oh, this is something I do,” he added. That decision may be subconscious, however.

Along with lawmaker’s decisions, jails just can’t handle more people, Ron pointed out.

“Where’s the distracted driving playbook?” Don wanted to know. “We all have to decide this.”