April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month Oneida County…

April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol to inform residents of the deadly epidemic that is Distracted Driving.

Anything that takes your attention away from driving can be a distraction. Sending a text message, talking on a cell phone, using a navigation system, and eating while driving are a few examples of distracted driving. Any of these distractions can endanger you, your passengers, and others on the road.

There are three main types of distraction:

Visual: taking your eyes off the road

Manual: taking your hands off the wheel

Cognitive: taking your mind off driving

3,142 LIVES LOST IN CRASHES INVOLVING DISTRACTED DRIVERS IN 2019 — THAT'S 3,142 TOO MANY

9% FATAL CRASHES IN 2019 THAT INVOLVED DISTRACTED DRIVERS

26,000+ APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIED IN CRASHES INVOLVING DISTRACTED DRIVERS FROM 2012-2019

Since 2007, drivers 16 to 24 years old have been distracted by devices at higher rates than other drivers, but we're all at risk for distracted driving crashes. Consider these tips for safe driving:

-If you must send or receive a text, pull over to a safe location and park your car first.

-If you have passengers, appoint a “designated texter” to handle all your texting.

-If you can’t resist the temptation to look at your phone, keep it in the trunk.