Webster's New Word College Directory announced this week that distracted driving wasits choice for word of the year in 2009.

Webster's Editor-in-Chief Mike Agnes first made the announcement in November and explained the selection via a video posted on the dictionary's New Word Web site and linked to on YouTube. He said the word, as all emerging words, reflects popular culture and public attitude.

"The driving is not distracting, it's the driver who is distracted, like with drunk driving," Agnes said.

The term has also given rise to its own abbreviations, such as DWD for "driving while distracted," and DWT for "driving while texting."

On its Web site, Webster's writes:

A sign of the times surely, distracted driving is another reflection – and consequence – of our ongoing romance with all things digital and mobile and the enhanced capabilities they provide. While it now may be easier and quicker to feed our multitasking habits, it is not always safe, and many jurisdictions are formalizing that position by making it a crime to text or otherwise use a cellphone while driving.

The phenomenon has been a major point of emphasis at the federal level and especially at the U.S. Department of Transportation, where Secretary Ray LaHood hosted a Distracted Driving Summit in the fall. At the event, LaHood cited research when announcing that school bus drivers and teen drivers would especially be targeted in law enforcement activities. He also announced that President Obama would implement a ban on all cell phone use, including texting, in any government owned vehicle or by a government employee in their personal vehicle while on official business. That provision is now in effect.

DOT has also launched a new D!straction.gov Web site and recently released a "Calling Plan" public service announcement.