Fatigue, texting join alcohol as driving hazards

Drivers should have the message about drinking. After years of lobbying by groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, getting caught driving while under the influence of alcohol has serious consequences. Too many still do it, but if they are convicted, drivers face long-term consequences.

The problem is, drunk driving is only the tip of the iceberg.

Maria Schriver was videotaped driving while talking on a cell phone a year after her husband, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, signed into law a ban on doing so. Schwarzenegger promised to take "swift action," later clarified by a spokesperson to mean that he would ask his wife not to hold a cell phone while driving.

Talking, of course, is only one of the activities that can be done wirelessly, and distract drivers in the process.

Volvo Cars of North America LLC is advertising its support the U.S. Department of Transportation's efforts to combat driving while talking, texting or otherwise using a cell phone while driving.

Along with the development of the three-point seat belt, part of every car made today, to building cars that warn fatigued drivers when they waver from their lane, Volvo is committed to the lofty goal of ensuring, by 2020, that "no one will be killed or injured in a new Volvo."

We doubt they'll be able to reach that goal, but their effort does throw the spotlight on the many distractions that can lead to injuries and death.

For instance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that there are 56,000 sleep-related road crashes annually in the United States, resulting in 40,000 injuries and 1,550 fatalities.

In North Carolina between 1990 and 1992, 5,104 accidents were found to have involved a driver who had fallen asleep, and a survey of 205 drivers in another state found that 31 percent admitted to having dozed off at least once while driving during the preceding 12 months.

In an effort to improve safety of vehicles with the potential to cause the most damage, the Nebraska State Patrol is taking part in "Operation Safe Driver" next week, Oct. 18-24.

Sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, the activity is a response to a study of large truck-related crashes between April 2001 and December 2003 that showed commercial vehicle and non-commercial vehicle driver performance, recognition and decision factors accounted for 88 percent of the critical reasons for such crashes.

Last year, "Operation Safe Driver" resulted in 72 drivers and 57 vehicles being placed out of service. Driver violations included hours of service and driving under suspension. Vehicles were placed out of service for violations such as bad brakes, tires or other problems that pose immediate safety risks.

Upcoming winter driving conditions make it even more important for drivers to be rested and alert. If it takes a ticket to avoid an injury or fatality, it will be worth it.