April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cell phone use - specifically, texting, talking, and social media use - has become the most common distraction.
Lori Weaver-Hawkins, public affairs manager at Triple A Bluegrass, said distracted driving claims thousands every year.
“Right now, we’re looking at more than 3,000 people every year across the country lose their lives in what are reported as distracted driving types of crashes, and here in Kentucky over the five-year period that ended in 2023, we had 783 people lose their lives,” said Weaver-Hawkins
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 3,308 distracted driving fatalities in 2022 alone. Weaver-Hawkins said distracted driving is just as dangerous as impaired driving.
Weaver-Hawkins said cell phones aren’t the only danger, people are also often distracted by conversations, food, vehicle technology like navigation, and even daydreams.
Highway officials said placing your cell phone out of sight is an effective method in preventing distractions. Officials also recommend setting devices to “do not disturb” to prevent any temptation to look at them while driving.
Weaver-Hawkins said there are common misconceptions when it comes to driving and distractions on the road.
“Even if you wait, because I’ve had drivers say this, ‘You know, I only text at a stoplight’. The fact is, if you are sending a text or using your phone in any way at the stoplight, you are mentally still distracted another thirty seconds at least down the road after you finish that text or call,” said Weaver-Hawkins
Weaver-Hawkins said there are other precautions drivers can take to prevent distractions such as planning navigation before starting a journey to avoid planning it while traveling and pulling over to the side of the road to take urgent calls or texts.