Who needs journalistic integrity when you can make up a story to fit your needs?  Such could be the case in Ted Gregory's reporting in "Dialing in on teen drivers' distractions," Chicago Tribune, June 25, 2007.

I confess. The story made a compelling case for passing a national ban on hand held devices in motor vehicles.  It made such an impact on me that I forwarded the story to some of our leadership with the idea of having AAMVA voice its support for the issue.  Thankfully, I took the time to look deeper into the story. 

In his writings about studies at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), Gregory asserts that the Institute's director, Thomas Dingus, makes the claim that he (Dingus) "supports the call for a ban on all hand-held devices such as cell phones for drivers younger than 18."  The Trib's Gregory further suggests that "those events and similar footage were strong enough to prompt Dingus to suggest a nationwide ban on all hand-held devices--not just cell phones--for all drivers under 18."

So based on the VTTI study and Dingus' alleged remarks, you can make the conclusion that a national ban on hand held devices used by teens behind the wheel is a logical idea.  And while cell phones, and other driver distractions, are no doubt hazards to safe driving, there is a big problem here.  The study is still 12 to 18 months from completion.  So what happened here?

According to Sherri Box, Communications Manager at VTTI, the teen driving study referenced by Gregory is ongoing and still 12 to 18 months from completion.  So there is no way to make the claim that the study supports a ban on hand held devices.  However there was a 100-Car Naturalistic Driving study completed in 2006.

Chances are pretty good Gregory has confused studies at VTTI.  And if Gregory and the Chicago Tribune can admit to this reporting error, I am willing to let them off easy this time.  If not, well, I'll let the public decide.

With all that said, the Tribune has committed quite a bit of well-deserved journalistic ink for this topic in their in-depth series, "Teens at the Wheel."

But while I celebrate the Tribune's willingness to dig deeper into the teen driver arena, this kind of reporting is disappointing to me and is a poor watermark set for other journalists and aspiring journalists.

Let's hope the Tribune and Gregory take advantage of the opportunity to set the record straight.

Until next time, stay safe behind the wheel

Jason D. King
VP, Public Relations & Information Services
jking@aamva.org

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