Talk. Text. Crash. Campaign

Distracted driving continues to be a problem in Texas as data indicates drivers are not changing their behaviors. With one in five crashes involving distracted driving, a ratio that has not changed in the past four years, TxDOT aims to raise awareness and educate drivers about the dangers associated with distracted driving and encourage them to put away their cellphones while behind the wheel. The Talk. Text. Crash. Campaign, along with #EndTheStreakTX and Heads Up, Texas, focuses on safety measure drivers can take to make traveling our roadways safer for themselves and others.

In 2018, there were 540,561 motor vehicle crashes on Texas roadways. Of those, 95,572, or 18%, were caused by distracted driving (driver distraction, inattention or cell phone use). The 95,572 distracted driving crashes resulted in 394 deaths and 2,340 serious injuries.

Effective Sept. 1, 2017, state law prohibits drivers from reading, writing or sending electronic messages on mobile phones while driving.

What is distracted driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distractions can include anything from texting and talking on a mobile phone to eating and drinking, putting on makeup, shaving, reading, programming a navigation system, watching a video and even adjusting the radio. 

What if I need to text or call someone immediately?

Remember, distracted driving of any kind is dangerous. Research shows that regardless of whether you use a voice-to-text program or a hands-free or hand-held device, the distraction will affect your driving. If you must talk or text, pull over to a safe location. Follow the guidelines below to keep yourself and others safe.

• Always give driving your full attention.
• Pull off the road entirely before you talk or text.
• Put your phone away, or turn it off, before getting behind the wheel.
• Tell friends, family and coworkers you won’t respond to calls or texts when driving.
  
• Use a smartphone app that sends auto-reply texts when you’re behind the wheel.

Heads Up, Texas Campaign

Our Heads Up, Texas campaign educates Texans on the dangers and risks of distracted driving while raising awareness of state laws. The overall goal is to reduce crashes and save lives.

The campaign launched on June 4, 2019, with activities addressing and discouraging all forms of distracted driving. It will include paid, social and earned media, Texas-based social media influencer programming and community education and engagement through a tour of AT&T’s "It Can Wait," a distracted driving virtual reality experience.  For more details about event scheduling and locations in your area, call (800) 558-9368, toll free, to be automatically connected to a district office nearest you.

#EndTheStreakTX Campaign

#EndTheStreakTX is a broad grassroots effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel. Since Nov. 8, 2000, at least one person has died on Texas roadways every single day. It urges all Texans to commit to driving safely to help end the streak of daily deaths on our roadways. A key component of #EndTheStreakTX is our Heads up, Texas campaign focused on distracted driving.