Did You Know April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month?

Posted April 7, 2021

Since you have your cellphone with you basically all the time, it’s hard not to glance at it to see if you have any texts, respond to a quick message, or check a news headline as you drive, especially if you feel like there’s no one else around. But distracted driving in any form can severely compromise your safety and the safety of other people. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and we want everyone to learn more about this dangerous behavior to help us keep the roads here in North Carolina safe.

• In 2019, distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• Young adults are at the biggest risk of dying in a distracted driving-related accident. In the U.S. in 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 25% of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes were between the ages of 20 to 29.
• Distracted driving isn’t just texting and driving – it’s any activity that takes your full attention away from driving. Eating, switching the radio station, looking for directions or even talking to a passenger are all forms of distracted driving.
• Texting is one of the most alarming distractions. When you take your eyes off the road for 5 seconds while driving 55 mph, that’s the equivalent of driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

You can reduce your likelihood of distracted driving by putting your phone on “drive” mode when you get in the car, putting your phone on the backseat instead of keeping it up front with you, using hands-free technology, and texting your friends and family before you pull out of your driveway or parking spot. At Legacy Insurance Partners, we encourage you to stay safe and avoid distracted driving not only during Distracted Driving Awareness Month, but every time you get behind the wheel.