Drunken driving accounts for about a third of all motor vehicle crashes, reckless driving accounts for another third, and the final third of all motor vehicle crashes is because of a burgeoning 21st century driving hazard — distracted driving.

Collectively, motorists must understand that your vehicle is a potential weapon, and when abused either through driver error or negligence, can lead to severe injury and death, devastating families and communities.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 42,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2008. The No. 1 cause of death among teenagers is motor vehicle crashes, and in 2008, nearly 20,000 teenagers were involved in car crashes across the state of Maryland alone.

In response to these staggering statistics and the passion to make change, the Maryland Highway Safety Foundation, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, was formed in late 2008 as the result of a team of concerned business and civic leaders who are committed to working with government leaders to reduce highway deaths in Maryland, push public policy initiatives and educate the motoring public on safer driving practices.

With the advances of technology and the convenience it brings to our everyday lives, we must also be aware of the consequences that come with such advancements. David Meyer, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan, claims that the driving performance of an individual who is texting while driving is the equivalent of someone who is legally intoxicated.

If it is socially and morally considered reprehensible to drink and drive, with this evidence, we must also change our culture to believe the same in regard to all driver distractions including texting, cell phone use and the like. In fact, the chance that someone in the family will find themselves in an alcohol-related motor vehicle crash in their lifetime is more than just very likely, it’s almost a virtual certainty.

With these kinds of statistics, imagine what that percentage would be when considering all possible driver distractions, not simply alcohol, and how use of cell phones significantly increases the likelihood of drivers causing or being involved in a motor vehicle crash? The percentage would certainly be devastating.

In a unique approach, the Maryland Highway Safety Foundation is working diligently with the Maryland business community to implement driver safety policies, programs and initiatives within their organizations that will support the foundation’s efforts in keeping our highways accident free.

Foundation leaders are working with 100 of the region’s top business leaders whose organizations represent at least 100,000 employees, to pledge change within their organizations related to motorist safety in the hopes of reducing highway deaths in Maryland by 100 over the next five years. Currently, the Maryland Highway Safety Foundation already has approximately 30,000 employees across the state committed to the foundation’s programs and initiatives. It is not only our goal to reach 100,000 employees but also to share our message of driver safety to all Maryland motorists.

Simple yet effective driver safety policies that all organizations can implement include:

* Mandatory seat belt use;

* Either no cell phones or at least hands-free while driving;

* Limit alcoholic drinks at company gatherings;

* Establish driver training programs;

* Conduct education outreach for employees;

* Periodic checks of employee driving records;

* Development of crash review teams.

As lawmakers consider a bill that would ban texting while driving in the state, the Maryland Highway Safety Foundation urges all Maryland motorists to put down their cell phones while in the car, pull over on the side of the road to make a call. The life you save may be your own.

Executives and employees interested in bringing this lifesaving initiative to their businesses should contact the foundation.

David H. Nevins is co-chairman of the Maryland Highway Safety Foundation, www.mdhwysafety.org. He is the president of Nevins & Associates.