Deaths from distracted driving accidents increased 2 percent in 2011

"The latest numbers show how the tireless work of our safety agencies and partners, coupled with significant advances in technology and continued public education, can really make a difference on our roadways," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "As we look to the future, it will be more important than ever to build on this progress by continuing to tackle head-on issues like seat belt use, drunk driving, and driver distraction."

In Florida there were 2,398 traffic deaths in 2011, a 1.9 percent improvement from 2010, when there were 2,444. The country also had 1.9 percent fewer fatalities on the road.

The national report shows that alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities declined by 2.5 percent in 2011. The accidents account for 31 percent of overall fatalities.

As far as injuries and deaths resulting from distracted driving (the subject of a recent CL cover story), the report states:

Fatalities in distraction-affected crashes increased by 1.9 percent (3,267 fatalities in 2010 to 3,331 fatalities in 2011). The number of people injured in distraction- affected crashes declined by 7 percent (416,000 injured people in 2010 to 387,000 injured people in 2011).

Last week, Sarasota House Republican Doug Holder filed his anti-texting while driving bill, which would make it a secondary offense to be caught texting while driving. This means a driver can receive a citation only after being pulled over for a primary offense such as speeding or reckless driving. Holder told The Tampa Tribune he doesn't believe there should be any opposition to his legislation. If there's no opposition, that would be the first time, as a number of previously filed bills on distracted driving have gone nowhere.