April is Distracted Driving Awareness month, a time when several organizations, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Safety Council, join together to remind us all about the very real dangers of distracted driving, and ask that we all pledge to practice safer driving behaviors.
And this year, it couldn’t come at a better time. Because according to a recent announcement from the Colorado Department of Transportation, distracted driving causes about 15,000 motor vehicle collisions each year in Colorado. That’s an average of 42 crashes a day!
Drop the Distraction
As part of this year’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month, CDOT is running their “Drop the Distraction” campaign, the aim of which is to help remind drivers that when they drive distracted, they put the lives of real people at risk.
Available for viewing at the Stanley Marketplace in Aurora as of April 14th, will be a display from CDOT featuring a life sized mock car dashboard and steering wheel, in front of a large screen set up to look like a windshield. Playing on the screen is a video of four real people telling their stories of how distracted driving impacted their lives.
CDOT will also be distributing window clings and coffee sleeves through coffee shops around the state, as part of the campaign.
Distracted Driving by the Numbers
According to the NHTSA, in 2019 alone there were 3,142 fatalities as a result of distracted driving, which is a 10% increase over the numbers from the previous year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there were about 400,000 people injured in 2018, and an average of 3,275 fatalities each year between 2010 and 2018.
Of all the distracted drivers who were involved in fatal crashes in 2018, a full quarter of them were people between the ages of 20 and 29. And while people of all ages drive distracted, the most likely age group to engage in the behavior are drivers aged 15-19.
Take the Pledge
You can take the Just Drive Pledge by filling out and submitting the form on their website, stating that you will commit to not engaging in the following behaviors:
- Have a phone conversation – handheld, hands-free, or via Bluetooth
- Use voice-to-text features in your vehicle’s dashboard system
- Use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Vimeo or other social media
- Check or send emails
- Take selfies or film videos
- Input destinations into GPS (while the vehicle is in motion)
- Call or message someone else when you know they are driving
Further Reading: Users of Both Pot and Alcohol Take More Risks When Driving
Contact Our Colorado Springs Car Accident Lawyers Today
Have you or a loved one been injured by the negligent actions of a driver? Are you concerned you won’t have the money to pay medical bills and lost expenses? If so, you need an experienced Colorado Springs collision attorney on your side to help you fight for justice.
Contact the dedicated attorneys at the Schofield & Green Law Firm, P.C. today by calling (719) 694-8515, or by filling out the contact form on this page, to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and discuss your case.