In 2009 Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood launched a national campaign to ban texting while driving in response to startling stories about lives lost to distracted driving, as well as statistics highlighting a disturbing trend. Since then, more than 30 states have enacted laws banning texting while behind the wheel, and some states have banned the use of handheld devices while driving altogether. Last year LaHood considered an outright ban on the use of all electronic devices in motor vehicles. He wanted to limit as many cognitive distractions in an effort to reduce the number of truck and car accidents.

It appeared as if major automakers would follow his lead. Through its "Driving Skills for Life" program, Ford Motors sponsored clinics in a number of high schools to educate teenage drivers on the importance of following traffic laws and avoiding distractions. BMW introduced a series of ads highlighting the risks of distracted driving under its "Don't Txt & Drive" campaign. The Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers also worked with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons to promote safe driving practices.

But just as they are promoting safe driving habits, automakers are working diligently to include new interactive media systems to attract younger drivers for vehicles such as the Chevorlet Cruze and Ford Focus. GM's new OnStar system would allow drivers to use voice commands to update Facebook pages while behind the wheel, and Ford's SYNC system would allow social networking and web browsing capabilities. BMW's Connected Drive system would display emails, call logs and text read-backs on a dashboard screen.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) maintains that constant use of such interactive systems can lead to disastrous results. The cognitive distraction could lead to "inattention blindness", the inability to react quickly to hazards because a driver's mind is focused on something else. A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that drivers using handheld devices while driving were four times more likely to be in an accident compared to drivers who did not.

Automakers report that they are developing safety guidelines for interactive devices, and the NHTSA is creating its own rules for managing cognitive distractions in new vehicles. In the meantime, the best way to limit (or avoid) distracted driving is to put the cell phone down until you reach your destination.