Look over there — no wait, don’t!

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, so it’s time to put your blinders on and focus. And that goes for the whole year, not just April. Around 3,500 people were killed from distracted driving in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Distracted driving is a deadly nationwide issue that impacts countless people on the roads. The difference between a bad accident and no accident at all comes down to mere seconds, so don’t underestimate the value of removing distractions while driving.

Top reasons for distracted driving

Texting, talking, and social media use are among the most common distractions thanks to the widespread use of cell phones. Other common distracted actions include:

• Adjusting the radio,
• Using a GPS,
• Eating and drinking,
• Applying makeup,
• Looking at scenery/billboards, and
• Reaching for an item next to/behind you.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Use April’s distracted driving awareness focus to help bring everyone’s attention to safer driving practices. NHTSA recommends that drivers:

• Pull over and park to send a text or make a call,
• Designate a passenger to handle all calls and texts,
• Put the cell phone in the trunk or glovebox to avoid scrolling and texting while driving, and/or
• Advise other drivers not to drive distractedly.

Increased law enforcement

From April 3-10, there may be an increased law presence on the road to help enforce the “U Drive, U Text, U Pay” campaign. As the slogan suggests, there are consequences for distracted driving that go beyond personal wellbeing — the law gets involved, too.