Today is No Phone Zone Day

The fight for phone-free driving habits will be on prime time today in Washington DC, as Oprah Winfrey's No Phone Zone Day rally is scheduled in the capital. Similar events are to take place at the same time in Detroit, Los Angeles, Boston, and Atlanta. The event, broadcasted live on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will feature renowned speakers, including Gayle King, editor-at-large for O, The Oprah Magazine, transportation secretary Ray LaHood, ABC 7's Leon Harris; and Jennifer Smith, founding director of FocusDriven.

"My biggest hope is that it becomes mandatory that you not have you're phone in the car and use it while driving. Just as seat belts are mandatory, just as driving while drunk is considered absolutely taboo," Winfrey said according to news8.net.

"Do we allow our eyes and our heads and out minds to wander in order to answer a ringing cell phone or read or send a text message, the right choice seems clear," said Secretary LaHood commented.

The Partnership for Advancing Road Safety (PARS) announced yesterday its support for Oprah's rally, saying distracted driving is the fastest developing traffic safety threat.

"PARS applauds the efforts that Ms. Winfrey and HARPO are providing to make sure drivers are paying attention to the road and operating vehicles safely," said David Kelly, PARS executive director.

"PARS looks forward to the results of the various distracted driving enforcement pilot programs ongoing across the country and to see what role automated enforcement could play in future enforcement activities."