April Marks National Distracted Driving Awareness Month: Pay Attention to the Road

ATLANTA, GA — April has been designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, prompting the Department of Driver Services (DDS) Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP) to call on drivers and motorcyclists to avoid distractions and focus on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2020, 3,142 people died, and 324,652 were injured in distraction-affected motor vehicle crashes.

Distracted driving, which involves any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the primary task of driving, poses a danger to the driver, passengers, and bystanders. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that an average of nine people are killed daily in the United States due to distraction-affected motor vehicle accidents.

Cellphone usage while driving has emerged as the most alarming distraction trend. On average, drivers take their eyes off the road for five seconds while texting – the same amount of time it takes to drive the length of a football field at 55 mph. According to NHTSA, cellphone usage accounted for 12% of distraction-affected crashes. Among those involved in fatal accidents, drivers aged 15 to 20 comprised the largest proportion of distracted drivers.

NHTSA's "U. Drive. U. Text. U. Pay." campaign aims to combat distracted driving with the following prevention tips:

For Drivers:

• Turn off electronic devices and avoid reaching for them while driving.
• Stay alert for pedestrians and cyclists, particularly those who may be distracted.

For Parents:

• Set a good example for young drivers and discuss responsible driving with teens.
• Familiarize yourself with the state's graduated driver licensing system, available on the DDS website and in published driver manuals.

For Passengers:

• Speak up if a driver uses an electronic device or appears distracted.
• Offer to make calls for the driver to keep their full attention on the road.

Other distractions include eating or drinking, conversing with passengers, grooming, using a navigation device, and adjusting the radio or climate controls.

Georgia has implemented measures to reduce fatal traffic accidents, such as the "Hands Free Georgia Act," which prohibits using hand-held mobile devices while operating a vehicle, enacted in 2018. The GMSP encourages everyone to pledge to put down their phones while driving and to promote this commitment among friends and family.