Triangle readers, or at least the ones who e-mail me, are not sold on the arguments by two local drivers who explained why they need to use their phones while they drive – and how they think they can do it safely. (See this week’s Road Worrier column with angry comments.)

In the first three weeks of January, I’ve received calls and e-mails from a few dozen folks alarmed about the danger of phone-distracted drivers. This has been on our minds ever since we learned that Erin Lindsay-Calkins of Efland was talking on her phone when she crashed through a rail crossing gate on Dec. 22 and stopped in front of the train that killed her and her 5-year-old son, Nicholas.

A lot of readers protested this week’s column quoting drivers Gilda Branch and Susan Jancuski about how they phone and drive:

All this column served to do in my mind is solidify the necessity to make it illegal for anyone to talk on their cell phone while driving, period. You two ladies are not ones I'd care to be sharing the road with, unfortunately, I probably am. – Amy Burling, Durham

These women you quoted remind me of my buddy who’s had too much to drink but still thinks he can drive. – Randy Wilson, Raleigh

Your summary of their safe driving and phone talking is a joke and that’s what makes men think women are terrible drivers. … I hope you really get reactions to this article…negative ones! – Marti Hall, Garner

Nobody contacted me to voice support for Branch and Jancuski. In fact, a lot of readers scolded the Road Worrier for uncritically airing their point of view. ... [MORE]

"The Oprah Winfrey Show" Monday (Jan. 18) will be filled with stories of people who have lost loved ones in crashes caused by distracted drivers.

“Most people think they can text and talk on the phone and they can handle it, and it's the ‘other’ people who can't really handle it," Oprah said in a press release.

"So what needs to happen, I strongly believe, is that the laws need to change to put us all in check.  Everybody thinks that they can handle it.  But you can't.  You can't.”

Oprah also will launch an online "No Phone Zone" campaign, inviting viewers to pledge not to use their phones while they drive.

The vision statement posted at focusdriven.org, a new website launched today, is simple and direct:

"Prevent injuries and save lives by eliminating cell phone use while driving."

FocusDriven is a public-private creation, a joint effort of the non-profit National Safety Council, which called a year ago for a nationwide ban on cell-phone use while driving, and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Ray LaHood, the U.S. transportation secretary, said the new campaign is inspired by the example of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

"Just as groups like MADD changed attitudes about drunk driving, I believe FocusDriven can help raise awareness and change the way people think about distracted driving," LaHood said in a press release. "Together, I hope we can put an end to this dangerous driving behavior."

FocusDriven will be led by the daughter of a distracted-driving victim. Jennifer Smith's mother was killed in 2008 by a driver talking on his cell phone.

Just a few weeks ago, USDOT pulled together its own efforts under the banner of a new site called distraction.gov.

What difference can they make?