April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and we want you to take the pledge with us to stop driving distracted.
According to the US Department of Transportation, 3,179 people were killed and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2014. Ages 16-34 are the most likely to drive distracted, with 71% of teens claiming they have sent a text while driving. Every second approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving every second in America.
So what counts as distracted driving? The US Department of Transportation considers it anything that averts a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. This includes texting, eating or drinking, talking to passengers, adjusting the radio, using a navigational system and more.
So how can we stop people from distracted driving? We encourage you to have a conversation with all the drivers in your family and make them aware of how dangerous it is. Lead by example and make our roads safe by not driving distracted.
Here are some tools you can use to learn more:
- Facts on Distracted Driving
- National Safety Council’s Distracted Driving Awareness Guide
- #ItCanWait Video
We hope these facts and tips keep you and your family safe on the road.