April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month – Here’s How to Stay Safe

Distracted driving awareness month has been a great way of observing this road safety issue and explore the best solutions for it. The 10th anniversary of Distracted Driving Awareness month was planned for April 2020, but the events were postponed to an undetermined date later this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Why Is Distracted Driving Awareness Important?

Several organizations and institutions join forces to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. They engage the public in various actions, collaborate with companies to make driving safer for everyone, and aim for the same goal: reducing the number of car accidents caused by distracted driving. 

In 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 8.5% of the fatal car crashes were caused by distracted driving. In truck accidents, distracted driving was responsible for 7.1% of the cases. 

When we analyze the data concerning teen drivers, the numbers are even more worrying. In this age segment, distractions account for about 21% of car accident causes. 

A lot of people tend to only think of mobile devices when it comes to distracted driving, but it refers to other types of distractions, too. Turning the volume up when your favorite song is up, browsing for a radio station, having an interesting conversation with your passengers or the kids being loud in the back seat are all distractions for a driver.

What Is the Purpose of Awareness Month?

As mentioned, a lot of road safety organizations are releasing informative materials in April to raise awareness about what should be avoided when behind the wheel. The “U drive. U text. U pay” campaign by the NHTSA is such an example, putting together statistics, videos of real cases, and testimonies to inspire people to take action against distracted driving.

What Can You Do About Distracted Driving?

Taking action as an individual is an important contribution to the collective effort to decrease the number of accidents caused by distracted driving. Taking responsibility and sharing information on the subject is something that will change the way we see such acts of safety rule violations. 

Reading and watching informative materials, distributing them to your friends and family, especially teen drivers, can help others drive more cautiously. Use the hashtag #DistractedDrivingAwarenessMonth when sharing relevant messages across social media and make sure you give an example by eliminating distractions from your driving. 

So far, statistics have shown that people are aware of the danger of distracted driving, but decide to do it anyway. By identifying the reasons why you might be distracted behind the wheel, you can come up with the right solutions for you. By using phone apps, instructing your passengers to behave, or taking breaks when you need to use the phone and you will be observing Distracting Driving Awareness month properly!

Have You Been Involved in a Distracted Driving Accident?

If you or a loved one have been hurt by a distracted driver, you have a right to compensation. Get in touch with a St. Louis car accident lawyer to protect your legal right to compensation.