Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Distracted Driving Research Documents

From the New York Times:

NHTSA's Distraction Statement:

"Whether the vehicle is a small car or a large truck, there are many things that can distract the driver from his or her primary task - getting to a destination safely. Those distractions come in a [sic] many forms, from eating and drinking to conversations with others in the vehicle. While drivers must recognize that all distractions can be dangerous, wireless communication devices are a particularly unique and troublesome since they involve cognitive distraction. Research has consistently demonstrated that diversion of a driver's cognitive attention can seriously impair the ability to drive safely. And, the reality is, driver performance can be compromised regardless of whether the device is hand-help or hands-free. Consequently, we recommend that drivers no use a cell phone will driving."

View all documents here.