Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Kaley Smith, MHA, Chief Executive Officer, Coastal Gateway Health Center

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and how to prevent or eliminate preventable injuries or deaths.  Did you know that at least eight (8) people per day are killed nationwide?   According to the United States Department of Transportation, in 2021, there were 3,522 people killed by distracted driving. 

The definition of distracted driving is ‘engaging in an activity that takes your eyes off the road.’  What a straightforward definition.  So, it is probably no surprise that the number one culprit of distracted driving is none other than cell phone usage.  Using cell phones includes talking, texting, and using or viewing social media.  Other risky actions include adjusting the radio and GPS, eating and drinking, and applying makeup but can be as simple as checking on the kids in the backseat using the rearview mirror.      

It is also no surprise that teens and young adults (ages 15-20) make up the highest percentage of distracted drivers across the nation.  A 2019 survey reported that 39% of high schoolers surveyed said they had texted or used social media at least once during the last 30 days while driving. 

To put things into perspective, while driving 55 miles per hour, sending or reading a text message is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. 

Follow these safety tips:

• Need to send a text? Pull your vehicle over to a safe location.
• If you struggle not to text or drive, put the cell phone in the glove box, backseat, or trunk until you arrive.
• Do not be afraid to speak up if you are a passenger in a vehicle where the driver is using their cell phone to text or for social media.
• Designate a passenger as the ‘designated texter’ to respond to messages or calls, handle directions (GPS), or adjust the radio.

Just remember, you have one job every time you jump behind the wheel of a vehicle, and that is to drive. Distracted driving is dangerous not just for you but also for other drivers on the roadway, pedestrians, and bicyclists. We encourage you to take a few moments this month to review the facts on distracted driving and pledge to be a safe, undistracted driver.