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April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, providing a good reminder for everyone of the dangers of not giving full attention to the road.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 3,308 people died in distracted driving crashes in the United States in 2022. An additional 289,310 people were injured in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers.
And those statistics get worse: NHTSA reports that 5 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2022 were reported as being distracted at the time of the crashes. While a common perception is that the problem is just among teenagers, consider that NHTSA reports that 6 percent of drivers between the ages of 15 and 34 years of age and those 75 and older who were involved in fatal crashes were reported as being distracted.
Drivers and passengers are not the only ones placed in danger by distracted drivers -- NHTSA reports there were 621 nonoccupants (pedestrians, pedalcyclists and others) killed in distraction-affected crashes in 2022.
In Ohio, the number of distracted driving violations this year stood at 6,167 earlier last week, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. That's up from the 2,208 reported during the same period in 2023. In our area, Columbiana County had seen the most citations -- 18 -- while Belmont County had 16, Jefferson County 12, Harrison County two and Carroll County one.
That increase can be traced to strict enforcement of the state's distracted driving law that went into effect a year ago. That law made distracted driving a primary offense, but it came with a six-month grace period that expired in October.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported there were 11,484 crashes involving distracted driving in 2022, 62 of which were fatal.
"Distracted driving has become one of the most dangerous risks on the nation's roads, endangering not only the distracted motorist, but also passengers, pedestrians and other motorists," said Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs, AAA East Central, which serves residents of Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and New York. "Any distraction, whether it's texting or talking to a passenger, takes a motorist's attention away from the road and can have deadly consequences."
But distracted driving isn't just texting. It can be talking on the phone, to another passenger or a pet, eating or drinking, changing a music station or messing with the navigation; anything that takes the driver's attention away from the road.
Too often we believe nothing will happen if we reach down to check that text or turn around to hand a bag of fast food to the child in the backseat. Just this once. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found 93 percent of motorists believed it was very or extremely dangerous to text or e-mail while driving, but nearly four out of 10 drivers admitted to doing so in the last 30 days, and 29 percent admit to typing one, according to its 2022 report.
To avoid distractions while driving, AAA East Central says, motorists should:
• Put aside electronic distractions. Put smartphones away, turn them to airplane mode or activate "do not disturb" call/text blocking features.
• Know where you are going. Set vehicle systems like GPS, seats, mirrors, climate controls and sound systems before hitting the road.
• Groom before leaving the house. Don't use time behind the wheel to fix hair or makeup -- this can be a deadly decision.
• Pull over if you have to call or text while driving.
• Stay focused. Be sure to actively scan the road, use mirrors and watch out for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Secure items. Properly secure items, children and pets that can move around the vehicle and become a distraction.
• Be mindful of passengers. If there are passengers in the vehicle, enlist their help as a "designated texter." Ask them to answer calls, respond to texts and program the navigation.
• Be a good passenger. Offer to assist the driver, and don't distract them.
• Use the driving focus feature on your smartphone.
In short, distracted driving is bad behavior. And even though we all know that, this month is a good reminder to avoid not just drinking and driving, but driving distracted as well. Keep your eyes on the road. Turn your phone off if need be. Make sure nothing is going to keep your attention from where it is needed.
You are taking more than your own life into your hands if you don't.