Apr
19
2013

FCC to Showcase Technology That Prevents Distracted Driving

10:00 am - 1:00 pm EDT
Commission Meeting Room, FCC Headquarters, 445 12th Street SW, Washington D.C. 20554

As part of its campaign to end the harmful and sometimes fatal consequences of texting while driving, the Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau will host a Distracted Driving Technology Showcase on Friday, April 19, 2013 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the FCC’s Commission Meeting Room.

Consumers, technology organizations, wireless carriers, law enforcement officers and others involved with educating the public about the dangers of texting while driving are encouraged to attend this important educational event. The showcase is free and open to the public.

  • Distracted Driving Technology Showcase
  • Date: April 19, 2013
  • Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Location: Commission Meeting Room, FCC Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

AT&T, Sprint/Nextel, Verizon, the National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS), Aegis Mobility, Cellcontrol, Assess2Communications, the National Safety Council (NSC), DRIVESMART VA, the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSA), ICONO Systems, and MobileLutions will exhibit.  Numerous other technology companies and state and local government agencies will also be represented.  Exhibitors will demonstrate new technologies, answer questions and provide consumer information on the dangers of texting while driving and other distracted driving behaviors.

The statistics on distracted driving and texting while driving are sobering:

  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2010 driver distraction was the cause of 18 percent of all fatal crashes – with 3,092 people killed – and crashes resulting in an injury to more than 416,000 people.
  • The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.

To learn more about distracted driving and solutions to help prevent it, go to the FCC’s Consumer Guide at https://www.fcc.gov/guides/texting-while-drivingand visit the FCC’s Web Clearinghouse at https://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/distracted-driving-information-clearinghouse.

Pre-registration is highly recommended for those who wish to attend the FCC Distracted Driving Showcase in person. To pre-register, please e-mailDistractedDriving@fcc.gov

The closest Metro stops are the Smithsonian and the L’Enfant Plaza stops. There is also a public parking garage adjacent to the main entrance of the FCC on 12th Street.  Please bring a government-issued identification to go through Security.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request.  Please include a description of the accommodation needed. Individuals making such requests must include their contact information should FCC staff need to contact them for more information.  Requests should be made as early as possible.  Please send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov  or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau: 202.418.0530 (voice), 202.418.0432 (TTY). 

For additional information about this event, or to pre-register by phone,  please contact Celeste McCray Celeste.McCray@fcc.gov; 202.418.2117 or Anthony Butler Anthony.Butler@fcc.gov; 202.418.2372.

FCC headquarters are located at 445 12th Street SW, Washington D.C. 20554.