“When you consider that driving is the most dangerous daily activity for the typical American, few issues are more important that our actions behind the wheel,” Pusey says in a statement. “This crisis [distracted driving] is the newest challenge to the safety of everyone sharing our roads and highways.”

The NTSB says it first investigated a distracted driving accident in 2002 (which resulted in five deaths) and has since seen the “deadliness of distracted driving across all modes of transportation.”

But it appears that its latest investigation, of an accident on Aug. 5, 2010, was the proverbial last straw.

Two people died in an accident involving a pickup truck, a Volvo “truck-tractor,” and two schools buses. The driver of the pickup and a person in one of the school buses died. Nearly 40 people were injured.

The NTSB says the driver of the pickup probably caused the accident because he or she was involved in a text-messaging conversation and was distracted.

The last text of 11 sent over a span of 11 minutes, was sent moments before the accident, says the NTSB.

“According to the [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration], more than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents,” says Deborah A.P. Hersman, chairman of the NTSB. “It is time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning off electronic devices while driving.”

State Farm has also released new research related to distracted driving. The largest car insurer in the U.S. says while texting remains a concern, other mobile web services accessed by drivers—of all ages—is a concern.

Accessing the internet on cell phones while driving has increased nearly 14 percent from 2009 for drivers ages 18 to 29, according to a survey.

State Farm says it surveyed about 900 motorists.

Reading social-media networks while driving is up to 37 percent in 2011 and 33 percent admit to updating these sites while driving.

“The mobile web is a growing issue for safety advocates concerned about distractions while driving,” says David Beigie, State Farm spokesman. “While the focus has been on young people, the data indicates that motorists of all ages are increasing their use of the mobile web while driving.”

Of all drivers surveyed, 18 percent say they access the internet on a cell phone while driving.