Cell Phone Users, 6/6/12, page 1 MEMORANDUM

From: Shan Brown Date: June 6, 2012 Subject: Drunk and Distractive Driving The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has scientific studies to illustrate the cause of fatal car accidents that are non-alcohol related. Organizations NOPUS (National Occupant Protection Use Survey) proves the use of electronic devices, while driving, decreases the drivers focus, increase injury and may cause death. NOPUS is the only nationwide probability-based on observed data in driver cell phone use in the United States. (NHTSA, 2011) The National Center for Statistics & Analysis and the NHSTA are responsible for conduction of the surveys. Granting those studies reveal automobile fatalities caused by drunk driving are declining a newly developed study titled distractive driving (National Center for Statistics Analysis, 2011) may be the result of lower alcohol-related deaths. Bar Graph-horizontal

Traffic Fatalities
Distracted Driving Drunk Driving 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2009) (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2009) (U.S. Department of Transportation) Bar Graph-vertical Chart

Traffic Fatalities
15000 10000 5000 0 Distractive Driving Drunk Driving 2008 2009 2010

(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2009) (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2009) (U.S. Department of Transportation) 2012 Use with permission.

Cell Phone Users, 6/6/12, page 2

Flow Chart
Driving Phone text recieved Driver looks at phone for 2 seconds Driver looks up Driver hits stopped car at red light

(ADMIN, 2012) Visual Review The bar graph-horizontal shows the concrete, truth and danger associated with both distracted and drunk driving. There is a strong sense of realism seeing the rate of fatalities. This graph is simple, to the point but lacks information such as death rates from previous years. The reader may crave more information. The bar graph-vertical is more descriptive with additional facts that may answer questions in the readers mind. The comparison of drivers and decline in deaths can be seen over a span of time. The readers observation may become deeper with thought and grasp the seriousness of the subject, moreover, appreciating the organizations hard at work creating tedious studies to help save lives. The flow chart simplifies the importance of paying attention for possibly school-aged children. The arrows illustrate cause, action and end result. The words are easy to read and understand and may offend educated adults. Conclusion The vertical bar graph would be most effective in conveying information that would remain with the reader. Not only is there a danger or fear of a driver under the influence of alcohol, anyone who is a passenger or driver is in more danger with the addition of distracted drivers.

2012 Use with permission.

Cell Phone Users, 6/6/12, page 3

Works Cited
ADMIN. (2012, February 28). Texting and Driving Facts. Retrieved June 6, 2012, from Texting and Driving Facts: http://www.textinganddrivingfacts.com National Center for Statistics Analysis. (2011, December). Traffic Safety Facts. Retrieved June 6, 2012, from U.S. Department of Transportation: http://www.nhtsa.gov National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2009, September). Traffic Safety Facts-DOT HS 811 216. Retrieved June 6, 2012, from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.gov National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2009). Traffic Safety Facts-DOT-165-10. Retrieved June 6, 2012, from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.gov National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2011, December 8). Traffic Safety Facts. Retrieved June 6, 20112, from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.gov NHTSA. (2011, December). Traffic Tech-Number 407. Retrieved June 5, 2012, from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.gov U.S. Department of Transportation. (n.d.). tt407-2. Retrieved June 6, 2012, from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: htttp://www.nhtsa.gov

2012 Use with permission.