April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and TxDOT is continuing its TALK. TEXT. CRASH. campaign to raise awareness of the dangers associated with distracted driving and to encourage Texans to put down their cell phones while driving. 

With more than 100,000 traffic crashes in Texas each year involving distracted driving, TxDOT is reminding drivers that using a mobile phone when behind the wheel is a risky habit they should break. In 2015, 38 percent of Texas drivers admitted to talking on their mobile phone while driving at least some of the time, according to a survey conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, and more than one-fifth (21.2 percent) of drivers said they read or send text messages or emails when behind the wheel.

What is distracted driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. While mobile phone use is the most recognizable driving distraction, TxDOT also urges drivers to avoid the following high-risk behind-the-wheel activities:

• Posting to social media
• Checking email
• Eating
• Grooming
• Reading
• Programming a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

 What are ways to end distracted driving?

The best way to end distracted driving is to educate all Texans about the danger it poses. Any type of behavior that draws a motorist’s attention away from driving is dangerous. Some simple tips to end distracted driving includes waiting until later to talk or text, use an app to disable texting when driving or safely pull over to the side of the road if a phone call or text cannot wait. 

You Talk. You Text. You Crash.