By Life Quotes, Inc. Staff

The U.S. government is calling attention to its upcoming summit on distracted driving by reporting that in 2009, some 5,474 Americans lost their lives to this easily avoided safety problem.

The government held its first distracted driving summit last fall and is following up on it at a time when numerous state legislatures have already enacted their own bills to crack down on cell phone use and texting behind the wheel.

According to the Department of Transportation, distracted driving accidents accounted for 16 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2009 – a figure that remained unchanged from 2008.

“These numbers show that distracted driving remains an epidemic in America, and they are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

While many people have gotten the message about distracted drivers, public opinion surveys indicate that millions continue to jeopardize themselves and others by using electronic devices behind the wheel. Another thing to consider is that with so many unsafe drivers on the road, even young and healthy individuals may want to consider carrying a life insurance policy.