Awareness needed, along with laws, to end dangers of distracted driving

[Commentary] Two studies paint a disheartening picture of distracted driving on the nation's roads. One reports that from 2001 to 2007, an estimated 16,000 people were killed in accidents caused by a driver sending text messages. Another says that laws in four states banning texting while driving have done nothing to reduce the rate of car crashes. We think laws governing handset use on the road will eventually have an impact on mortality rates, even if it's not yet showing up. But this can only happen if these laws are accompanied by strong enforcement and public awareness campaigns aimed to change our driving culture, so that the stigma associated with drunken driving applies to using a cell phone behind the wheel, too.