Lock Your Screen Before You Rock The Road from Ohio DOT on Vimeo.
Upper Sandusky, OH — The Wyandot County Safe Communities Coalition and local law enforcement agencies are teaming up for the national U Drive. U Text. U Pay. high-visibility enforcement effort during Distracted Driving Month in April. From April 3-10, 2023, law enforcement officers will work together to enforce texting and distracted-driving laws.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, 32,483 people died in distraction-affected crashes over the ten-year period from 2011 to 2020. In 2020, there were 3,142 deaths linked to driver distraction, or 8% of all motor-vehicle crash fatalities. This is an increase of 23 fatalities compared to 2019.
Many drivers are guilty of a “double standard” when it comes to distracted driving. In its 2018 Traffic Safety Culture Index, the AAA Foundation reported that while nearly 96% of drivers believed it was very or extremely dangerous to read a text or email while driving, 4 out of 10 drivers admitted to doing so within the previous 30 days.
“Distracted driving is a leading cause of vehicle crashes on roadways, and often this distraction is attributed to texting while driving,” Wyandot County Sheriff Todd Frey said. “We know texting and driving is dangerous, but some choose to do it anyway putting others at risk. Beginning April 3, drivers will see increased law enforcement efforts, as officers will be stopping anyone who is caught texting and driving.”
Drive Safe Every Trip
Drivers should use the following steps to ensure a safe experience for themselves, their passengers and other roadway users:
— Pull over and park the vehicle in a safe location if there’s a text or a call that can’t wait.
— Ask a passenger to be a “designated texter.” Allow them access to the phone to respond to calls or messages.
— Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
— Cell phone use is habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate the phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature, or put the phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of the vehicle until the destination is reached.
Texting while driving is dangerous and illegal. Break the cycle. Remember: U Drive. U Text. U Pay. For more information, follow @WyandotHealth on preferred social media sites.
