Every year, thousands of lives are lost, and countless injuries occur due to distracted driving. April has been designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month to call attention to the upward trend of distracted driving in the U.S.
This annual campaign aims to educate drivers about distractions and promote safer behaviors behind the wheel. According to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on our roads. Cellphone use — specifically, texting, talking, and social media use — has become the most common distraction. Other risky actions include adjusting the radio or GPS, applying makeup, eating, and drinking.
The NHTSA reported that distracted driving claimed 3,552 lives in the U.S. in 2021 alone, while the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that distracted driving leads to more than 1,000 injuries on average each day. The NHTSA also reported that an estimated 362,415 people were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving distracted drivers in 2021.
With deaths and injuries increasing from distracted driving, organizations, law enforcement agencies and community groups across the country are joining forces to spread awareness through several initiatives:
- Public Awareness Campaigns
- Educational Programs
- Enforcement Efforts
- Advocacy and Policy Initiatives and Laws
- Technology Solutions
Many states are implementing policies to crack down on distracted driving. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law AL SB 301 last year, which makes it illegal for drivers to use their cellphones without a hands-free device. The law took effect in June 2023, and during the first-year grace period, law enforcement was only allowed to issue warnings to drivers not using a hands-free device. The warning period will end this year on June 14, and drivers who are not using hands-free devices could be charged with a secondary offense, which means that they cannot be pulled over for using a cellphone, but if they are pulled over for another traffic violation, they could receive a ticket and fine for not using a hands-free device.
According to the law, Alabama drivers will be able to use their cellphones to talk (and possibly text) using a Bluetooth device, however, even when drivers are not holding the phone, talking on the phone could still be a distraction. Meaning, that in many of these cases, drivers may still try to adjust infotainment screens while driving, which takes their eyes off the road for extended periods of time.
As drivers, we all need to prioritize safety on the road, not only during Distracted Driving Awareness Month but also every other month as well. Every action we take to eliminate distractions on the road can make a difference in lives being saved and in creating safer roads.