National Campaign Aims to Stop Distracted Driving

Photo of a car accidentThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has declared April Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to the agency, the theme for the nationwide event will be “It’s Not Worth It.” In addition to planning events, the NHTSA is coordinating with law enforcement agencies across the country to ticket distracted drivers as part of its “U Text, U Drive, U Pay” campaign.

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (COTS), 80 percent of car accidents involve distracted driving, leading to 3,000 deaths per year. Numbers released by the COTS match data from the NHTSA, which claims 3,154 died in distracted driving accidents in 2013. In 2013, more than 426,000 California drivers were fined for distracted driving.

How Do Distracted Driving Campaigns Work?

The “It’s Not Worth It” campaign will use a broad social media strategy to raise awareness among adults aged 18 to 34, the demographic most likely to text and drive. In San Diego, law enforcement officials have been on the alert, pulling over drivers for eating, grooming, talking on the phone and texting.

This “U Text, U Drive, U Pay” campaign is important because taking your eyes off the road for just a few seconds can have catastrophic consequences for you and others. Law enforcement can serve as an additional means of educating the public on the dangers of distracted driving.

National campaigns to end distracted driving have surged in popularity, with a major telecom company launching its “It Can Wait” campaign, targeting drivers who text behind the wheel. As part of its campaign, “It Can Wait” allows victims affected by distracted driving to share their stories and educate others.

Distracted driving leaves victims catastrophically injured, with their lives forever altered. Individuals who have survived a distracted driving accident might have legal options for pursuing compensation. Follow Bonnici Law Group on Facebook for regular updates.

Bonnici Law GroupSan Diego Injury Attorney



Tags: