April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

EASTERN OREGON – (Information from the Oregon Department of Transportation) April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The Oregon Department of Transportation, in cooperation with several other agencies, are encouraging safe and attentive driving practices in an effort to combat distracted driving related incidents. Kicking off this month’s activities is the week-long National Distracted Driving Enforcement Mobilization campaign. Explaining the intentions of Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the opening campaign, ODOT issued the following bulletin:

“Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing safety issues on the roads today. Distracted drivers aren’t just a threat to themselves; they are a danger to everyone else on the road. Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment, or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving. Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. 

Oregon will be participating in the National Distracted Driving Enforcement Mobilization Campaign from April 3-10 and drivers using a mobile device could face a Class B traffic violation with a presumptive fine of $265 (maximum $2,000) for the first conviction. You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing. Eyes on the road. It could save your life.” 

Based on ODOT data from 2016-2020, there were 15,538 crashes, 24,126 injuries and 186 fatalities reportedly caused by distracted driving during the four-year period. Of these, 1,237 crashes, 1,824 injuries and 24 fatalities were caused by cellphone distraction specifically.

Note that distracted driving isn’t just caused by mobile and electronic devices. ODOT defines distracted driving under four categories:

• Visual – looking at something other than the road.
• Auditory – hearing something not related to driving.
• Manual – handling something other than the steering wheel.
• Cognitive – thinking about something other than driving.

Any combination of distractions for any length of time could result in an incident, ranging from an inconvenient traffic stop to a fatal crash. For more information on distracted driving awareness, visit Oregon Department of Transportation : Distracted Driving : Safety : State of Oregon or Distracted Driving Dangers and Statistics | NHTSA

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Elkhorn Media Group