WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called distracted driving a ''menace to society'' Wednesday, kicking off a two-day meeting on preventing drivers from using mobile devices behind the wheel.
The Obama administration reported that nearly 6,000 people in the U.S. were killed and a half-million injured last year in vehicle crashes connected to driver distraction, including drivers talking on cellphones and texting.
''To put it plainly, distracted driving is a menace to society,'' LaHood told more than 300 participants at the government's 'distracted driving summit.' ''Distracted driving is an epidemic and it seems to be getting worse every year.''