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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Climate activists back solar energy bills Ashland High School cycling squad ready to roll, with help from South State Cycling nonprofit group Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services Ashland High School's robotics team's season ends at district meet Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Ashlander starts up a natural pet food supplement business Should workers be paid at least $15 an hour? Ride & Drive: 2016 Mazda CX-5 Cars We Remember: Car lover knows his 348/409 engines Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over State News Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Lawrence R. Hugo III Death Notices Gordon Geeseman William D. Enyart Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ashland High School cycling squad ready to roll, with help from South State Cycling nonprofit group Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Ashland readies for Pacific Rim Bowl Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls High school Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls Ashland High events postponed to today Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Southern Oregon University Grizzlies blow away Eagles Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, April 11 Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Editorial Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Our View: Council should stop stalling on welcome center Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud Our View: One tree vs. the Ashland community Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Letters Letters to the Editor, April 11 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Letters to the Editor, April 4 Letters to the Editor, April 1 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Columns Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Rabbi David Zaslow teaches poetry Community blog: Submit a poem Best Bets, April 9-16 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Community blog: Get a poem a day Theater Ticket Availability Ticket availability in Ashland theaters, April 7 Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' Movie review: ‘The Longest Ride’ is a sweet ride Movie Listings: April 10-16 'Furious 7' — buckle up for another great ride Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services Inner Peace column: Worldwide Conflict and Resolution, Part II: Who Are You? Community Blog: Judgment and Misery Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford App Finder: Top humor apps Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' ... Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' ... Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Dr. Jeff Hersh: Distracted driving By Dr, Jeff Hersh More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Dr, Jeff Hersh More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 @ 12:34 pm Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 12:39 PM By Dr, Jeff Hersh More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 @ 12:34 pm Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 12:39 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Q: My 17-year-old daughter says talking on her cellphone while driving is not a distraction, and I should stop bothering her about it. What do you think? A: April has been designated Distracted Driving Awareness month, so this is a very timely topic. Distracted driving (DD) is defined as anything that takes the driver’s mind off the primary task of driving, including things that take their attention away from driving, their eyes off the road or their hands away from the steering wheel. This is an issue for all drivers, but has been identified as even more worrisome in teen drivers where almost 60 percent of all accidents they are involved in have some aspect of DD as a contributing cause. There are many common driving distractions, including the car radio/player (changing channels and even singing to the songs), eating/drinking, interacting too much with passengers (whether verbally or physically), self-care (such as applying makeup, dental care, etc.), and reading (whether maps, a navigation system or other reading material); the variety of distractions that have been blamed for accidents is staggering. However, one of the most worrisome distractions is the cellphone; it is called out as a distraction in many accidents, whether because of talking on the phone, texting, emailing or taking pictures. - One survey found that over two-thirds of people 18-65 spoke on their cellphone while driving in the prior month, and one-third admitted to texting or emailing. - At any given daytime moment, over 600,000 drivers are using cellphones or other electronic devices. - Texting is one of the more common distractions; not a surprise when you consider there were over 150 billion texts sent in the U.S. last year. - Studies have shown that sending a text takes the driver’s eyes off the road for five seconds or more. At 60 mph, that is over 400 feet traveled; imagine what could pop-up in the road during that time/distance. Think of this as driving the length of a football field with your eyes shut, because that is essentially what you would be doing. And of course the potential hazards that could occur in five seconds when driving on a winding road are obvious. DD is a huge health issue. There were over 400,000 injuries related to DD last year and over 3,000 deaths (of drivers and passengers in the DD vehicle and in other vehicles involved in the crash, as well as pedestrians, bicycle riders and other victims). Overall, it is estimated that 20 percent of all fatal car crashes have DD as a factor. Ten percent of all fatal crashes where a teenager was the driver had DD as a contributing factor. This is even more pronounced in drivers in their 20s, where almost 30 percent of fatal crashes have DD as a factor. I have personally taken care of a teenage driver who survived a car accident where she was texting; unfortunately her best friend, a front-seat passenger, died. This accident devastated both families, and will likely haunt the surviving teen driver for the rest of her life. So what can be done? Teach your teens to turn off their cellphone before they start the engine. Parents, consider making this a condition of their cellphone use. Data shows that DD is as dangerous as drunken driving; hopefully parents tell their kids not to get into a car being driven by someone who has been drinking, so clearly other DD should be addressed as well. Many states have identified DD as an issue and have enacted laws prohibiting the use of some electronic devices, whether it is a ban on texting while driving or use of a handheld cellphone. Federal employees are not allowed to text while driving a government vehicle. Commercial vehicle operators have been banned from texting while driving, and the Federal Railroad Administration has banned employees from using cellphones and electronic devices completely. Let’s prevent that next “OMG” text from being “did you hear Joe died while texting and driving?” Jeff Hersh, Ph.D., M.D., can be reached at [email protected]. By Dr, Jeff Hersh More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Dr, Jeff Hersh More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 @ 12:34 pm Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 12:39 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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