Distracted Driving Awareness Month

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Responsible driving starts with you! The actions and decisions that we make every day while driving determine if we get home safely or face a tragic event. Read on to discover how to become a safer driver.

What is distracted driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that shifts the attention away from driving. The biggest culprit of distracted driving is texting, but distractions can also include: rowdy passengers, eating and drinking, fiddling with the car radio, aggressive driving, plugging information into a GPS while already moving, and/or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In 2022, distracted driving claimed the lives of 3,308 people.

How can you prevent distracted driving?

• Wear a seat belt. This prevents ejection if you are in an accident. Ejection from a vehicle almost always results in a fatality. Back-seat passengers need to buckle up, too! According to the DMV website, if a back-seat passenger is not wearing their seatbelt during an accident, the driver is twice as likely to die in a frontal crash.
• Get enough sleep to stay alert while driving. Those who are operating a vehicle without enough rest risk falling asleep behind the wheel or becoming easily distracted/zoned out.
• Drive sober. Alcohol and illegal drugs distort a driver's reality and negatively impact their reaction time. You are putting lives at risk if you are an impaired driver. Drinking and driving, drugged driving, and drowsy driving are responsible for thousands of lives lost each year. If you are caught driving under the influence, there will be serious penalties to face. If you are a passenger, always ride with sober drivers.
• Follow at a safe speed and distance from other vehicles. Tailgating and speeding can result in a rear end collision, veering off the road, and/or not being able to see far enough ahead to prevent hitting a serious obstacle in the road. Traveling at unsafe speeds and too closely behind someone else often results in underestimating a dangerous situation.
• Focus on the road and put the cell phone down. Driving requires full attention, so avoid texting while driving, listening to music too loudly, and discourage major passenger distractions. If you are a passenger riding with a distracted driver, speak up! Remind them to be mindful.

Learn more about what you can do to keep yourself and others safe while driving, and why traffic safety is so important.

The task of driving requires full attention. We all play a role in ending distracted driving and eliminating risky behaviors while traveling. Be vigilant and stay safe on the road. Encourage friends to do the same. By raising awareness, we help to protect our own lives and the lives around us.