April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Ditch the Driving Distractions

April 1st kicks off Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a campaign headed by the National Safety Council (NSC), one of the country’s top nonprofit safety advocacy groups.  The Council has been in existence for more than 100 years. It seeks to eliminate the top causes of preventable deaths. One of its focuses is roadway safety.

The Just Drive Campaign

NSC points to a phenomenon that we have examined here at AutoAccident.com – that despite a significant reduction in traffic volume since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s roads have become more dangerous. One problem is distracted driving. The NSC states that on a typical day in America, upwards of 700 people sustain injuries in car crashes caused by distracted driving. Topping the list of distractions are cell phones. Even talking on the phone hands-free is enough to divert your attention away from the road. The Council is using the month of April to encourage everyone to stay safe and “Just Drive.”

Parents are Less Distracted with Kids in the Car

A survey conducted by the NSC found that parents are not as likely to use technology when they drive with their kids in the vehicle.

The survey was administered to 1,000 drivers who were at least 25 years old and who regularly drove with children. While close to two-thirds of the survey respondents confessed to setting up a navigation program while driving when they were alone in the car, that behavior was reduced by 20% when their kids were traveling with them. On a similar note, while more than half of the respondents said they would occasionally or regularly talk on the phone when driving, that number dropped to around 13% when their children were with them.

The CEO and president of the NSC remarked that thousands of Americans are killed every year due to distracted driving.  She encourages everyone to drive as though they have a loved one in the vehicle at all times. 

Commit to Action

The NSC is asking drivers to make a commitment to driving without distractions by taking their Just Drive pledge. 

The pledge is to eliminate the following distractions for the safety of the person making the pledge as well as others on the road. 

  • I will not talk on the phone while driving, even with Bluetooth or other hands-free systems.
  • I will not use the voice-to-text feature installed in my vehicle.
  • I will not use any social media apps while driving.
  • I will not send emails or check my emails.
  • I will not take a video or a selfie.
  • I will not enter destinations into my GPS while the car is moving.
  • I will not message or call another person that I know is in the act of driving.

The NSC has a form on its website for drivers to complete the pledge.  In return, you will receive a certificate via email.  

Watch the YouTube video.  Below is a clip uploaded by AAA a few years ago showing why even hands-free distractions can be dangerous.

Donate to the NSC

The NSC issued a reminder that public support helps the council put on safety programs such as driver training in order to make the roads safer, and they ask that during April you consider a donation along with making the Just Drive Pledge.

Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento

Hello, and thanks for reading our discussion about distracted driving awareness. I’m Ed Smith, and I have been advocating for injured Northern Californians as a Sacramento personal injury lawyer for close to four decades. If you have suffered harm due to the actions of a distracted or otherwise negligent driver, please promptly reach out to the experienced injury lawyers at my firm for compassionate, free, and friendly advice.  Our local number is (916) 921-6400. From outside the region, use our toll-free line (800) 404-5400 or send your inquiry online

The links below may be helpful if you are searching for a skilled attorney:

Photo Attribution: Pixabay – photos/people-ride-driving-car-vehicle-2599458/

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