In April, the Texas Department of Transportation will launch a campaign that hopes to inspire drivers and help roads safe by making sure that they are not distracted. To many who lost loved ones to distracted driving accidents, this is a relief, but not even close to a real solution.
The problem, reports show, is that the number of distracted driving accidents in Texas has increased 3 percent from 2014. In 2015, 103,576 crashes in the state were tied to distracted driving. At least 463 Texans were killed in these crashes and other 3,076 were injured. With that amount of crashes being caused by distracted driving, it’s easy to see why many believe that the absence of a law targeting distracted driving may have something to do with that.
But while lawmakers do not address that question, state authorities are launching campaigns that urge drivers to learn more about distracted driving and how to avoid accidents. The campaign that is about to be launched is known as “Talk, Text, Crash.” It has the goal of telling drivers to put their phones away.
The campaign teaches drivers to stop posting on social media, quit checking their email, stop eating, grooming, reading, watching videos, and even programming navigation systems while the vehicle is in motion. If the activity you want to take part in involves allowing your attention to be diverted to another activity that has nothing to do with driving your vehicle and paying attention to the road, there might be accidents.
If you’re a driver and you are concerned about your safety and the safety of your loved ones, make sure to never ignore the risks associated with distracted driving. Make sure to always focus on the road ahead. Avoid crashes by simply paying attention to your vehicle and the road. Ignoring the possible risks may lead to injuries and deaths.
You may read more about the campaign and the fact that Texans are more distracted now than ever by following this link.