The agenda for the upcoming Distracted Driving Summit includes five panel discussions on data, research, technology, policy and outreach, with a range of experts discussing each topic
. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently released the agenda for the event, which takes place Sept. 30-Oct. 1.

In Washington, D.C., the summit will bring together over 200 safety experts, researchers, elected officials, and members of the public to discuss ideas about how to combat distracted driving.

"We must act now to stop distracted driving from becoming a deadly epidemic on our nation's roadways," said LaHood. "This summit will give safety leaders from across the nation a forum to identify, target and tackle the fundamental elements of this problem."

Kicking off the event will be a panel where participants will analyze the scope of the issue and various distractions that exist, followed by a panel that will review currently available research. The first day will also include an examination of distractions caused by technology and efforts made to assess and reduce negative effects that come from using devices. This panel will also delve deeper into technology that can be used to prevent the consequences of driver distraction.

The second day of the summit will feature an evaluation of legislative and regulatory approaches to dealing with distracted driving. The discussion will focus on the impact of such measures and any issues with enforcement. Members of Congress and their staff will also have the opportunity to contribute to the discussion. The second day will end with a youth program, which will include a discussion with teens about their experiences with distracted driving. There will also be an examination of public awareness initiatives surrounding distracted driving and research on the effectiveness of these programs.

The summit will be available live by webcast, during which members of the public can submit questions online for panel discussions.

More info: www.rita.dot.gov/distracted_driving_summit