April is Distracted Driving Month
We’ve all seen it – the car that slows down, then speeds up, as it slowly weaves beyond the white lines of its lane. This is an unpredictable and dangerous activity happening every day — distracted driving. During April, there is a focus on raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, also known as inattentive driving.
“Distracted driving” is self-explanatory: the driver is being distracted from their focus: the road and vehicles around them. Something as simple as eating and drinking while driving can cause a driver to look away from the road long enough for there to be trouble.
Believe it or not, some drivers think it’s perfectly safe to apply makeup and style their hair while driving. (It’s not!) Even simple tasks like adjusting the music, temperature, or GPS can take just enough time to take the driver’s eyes off the road. The most famous of inattentive driving activities are scrolling through social media and texting.
Distracted Driving Statistics
Distracted driving killed 3,308 people in the United States in 2022.
Imagine driving the entire length of a football field (100 feet or 91.44 meters) with your eyes closed at 55 mph. That’s about how long it takes to send or read a text. Keep your eyes up!
Young Adult and Teen Drivers
Among fatal crashes involving distracted drivers in the U.S. in 2019, a higher percentage of drivers aged 15–20 were distracted than those aged 21 and older.
A 2019 survey of U.S. high school students found that 39% of those who drove in the past 30 days texted or emailed while driving on at least one of those days (CDC).
It was found that texting or emailing while driving was more common among older students than younger students and more common among White students than Black or Hispanic students.
Drivers Between Ages 18-34
Inattentive driving occurs most within this age group. In fact, the most common distracted driving behaviors in this age group include texting, adjusting music, talking with a passenger, or using a smartphone or GPS on the vehicle’s dashboard.
Safety Tips
Avoid texting while driving. Pull over and park your car in a safe location if you need to send a text.
Designate a passenger. Let your passenger handle calls and messages, and adjusting the temp, music, and GPS.
Put the phone away. Consider placing your cell phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat until you reach your destination.
Distracted driving is dangerous for everyone. Remember to focus on your goal: to safely arrive at your destination. Get famous on social media later, when you’re not driving. Be safe out there!
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