National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

April marks National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Brighton Police Department is urging all motorists to acknowledge the risks associated with driving while distracted.

Between 2019 and 2023, a staggering 16,384 fatalities and approximately 1.7 million injuries resulted from crashes involving distracted drivers, according to NHTSA. In 2023 alone, 3,275 lives were lost in traffic accidents involving at least one distracted driver, accounting for 8% of all traffic fatalities that year. Furthermore, an estimated 324,819 people suffered injuries in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2023.

To ensure safe driving, it is essential to maintain focused attention on the road. Adopting phone-free driving habits is crucial to creating a secure environment for all road users.

Some key habits to adopt include:

• Pulling over to a safe location before using your phone to send or read messages.

• Assigning a passenger to manage calls and messages during the drive.

• Refraining from social media scrolling and messaging while behind the wheel.

• Enabling "Do Not Disturb" mode to silence notifications.

• Storing your phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat to break the habit of driving distracted.

Driving while using a cell phone is a hazardous practice. By committing to phone-free driving and keeping your hands on the wheel, you can ensure that your eyes remain on the road and your focus stays on driving. Remember, eyes forward means no distracted driving.