NHTSA Driver Distraction Internet Forum

The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Department of Transportation or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. If trade or manufacturers' name or products are mentioned, it is because they are considered essential to the object of the publication and should not be construed as an endorsement. The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sponsored a virtual conference on the Internet (held July 5-August 11, 2000) to understand the risks from distraction associated with the explosive growth of in-car electronics. The Internet Forum provided an opportunity for technical experts and the public (both in the U.S. and internationally) to download research papers, ask questions, and share experiences regarding the use of in-vehicle devices (cell phones, navigation systems, wireless Internet, information & entertainment systems, night vision systems, etc.). Content on the site was organized into two basic areas: (1) Experience with technologies, and (2) Technical issues. The former provided opportunities for the driving public to share their experience with specific technologies in the context of driving and to provide their perspectives on basic issues related to their use. Discussions emphasized use of cell phones, navigation systems, night vision systems, wireless Internet, and information and entertainment systems. The "Technical Issues" section was devoted to general cross-cutting issues related to the safety impacts of in-vehicle technologies; five separate discussion areas were provided: Defining benefits and safety risks, Technical challenges associated with measuring distraction, Equipment design features and design solutions, Regulations, guidelines, and enforcement, and Safety campaigns and public education surrounding the safe use of in-vehicle technologies. In all, the site received over 23,000 hits with over 9,500 unique users and 2,500 registered guests. The site remains available as an information repository and can be accessed at