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April is a month of showers and flowers, vacation planning and getting the mower out. It's time to "play ball" across local baseball and softball fields. For putting away the winter gear and getting out shorts and casual shirts and tops. For getting the golf clubs and rods, reels and tackle boxes out. It's a time for nice weather road trips.
It is also a time to highlight the dangers of distracted driving. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. AAA reminds motorists: "Don't Drive Intoxicated. Don't Drive Intexticated."
"Intexticated" is a new one for us. But it does work. According to AAA: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that more than 30,000 motorists died in distracted-driving crashes between 2012 and 2021. In 2021 alone, more than 360,000 people were injured in distracted driving crashes.
"Don't Drive Intoxicated. Don't Drive Intexticated" is AAA East Central's ongoing initiative to end distracted driving. The campaign reminds motorists that the consequences of alcohol-impaired driving and distracted driving can be equally as devastating. While many may think distractions are limited to cell phones, they also include eating, changing music, adjusting the navigation, talking to other passengers and other distractions that take attention away from driving.
Many motorists are guilty of a "double standard" when it comes to distracted driving. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's 2022 Traffic Safety Culture Index found that while 93% of motorists believed it was very or extremely dangerous to text or email while driving, nearly four out of 10 drivers admitted to doing so within the previous 30 days.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol site, there have been 5,075 distracted driving violations issued so far in 2024. This includes 16 in Columbiana County and 120 in Mahoning County. That 5,075 total is up from this time last year when 1,995 violations had been issued. So the OSHP is certainly being proactive when it comes to distracted driving.
Of course, it would not be a rash assumption to declare that we are all or have been guilty of distracted driving. Having all of the new-fangled tech devices in a vehicle doesn't help with a driver's concentration on what should be his or hers only concern: paying attention to the road.
There are many out there who thought something bad while driving distracted would never happen to them. You know, the "I only took my eyes off the road for a couple of seconds," mindset. But it does happen.You have even read about fatal distracted driving cases on our pages. Lives are lost. Other lives forever shattered.
Just be smart and don't become just another statistic. We are all better -- and smarter -- than letting that happen. Right?
To avoid distractions while driving, AAA East Central offers common sensical advice:
-- Put aside electronic devices. Put smartphones away, turn them to airplane mode or activate "do not disturb" call/text blocking features.
--Prepare for the drive. Set vehicle systems like GPS, seats, mirrors, climate controls and sound systems before hitting the road.
--Groom before leaving the house. Don't use time behind the wheel to fix hair or makeup. This can be a deadly decision.
--Stay focused. Be sure to actively scan the road, use mirrors and watch for pedestrians and cyclists.
--Secure items. Properly secure items, children and pets that can move around the vehicle and become a distraction.
--Be mindful of passengers. If there are passengers in the vehicle, enlist their help as a "designated texter." Ask them to answer calls, respond to texts and program the navigation.
--Be a good passenger. Offer to assist the driver, and don't distract them.
Here are two sites for additional information:
AAA.com/DontDriveDistracted
https://statepatrol.ohio.gov/