As part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching a national campaign to crackdown on texting while driving. More than 3,000 lives per year are lost and hundreds of thousands are injured because of accidents caused by distracted driving. In 2009, when the U.S. Department of Transportation took up this issue, only 18 states had anti-texting laws. Today, 43 states have banned texting while driving.
During the month of April, powerful ads created by NHTSA will be used to spread the message of the dangers of texting while driving. Law enforcement from states all over America will be out in force, pulling over people who are texting while driving and issuing tickets. The hope is that this combination of public awareness, strong laws and tough law enforcement will work to reduce distracted driving.
Even though texting while driving is not yet against the law in Texas, drivers need to be aware of the dangers and make good choices to ensure their safety and the safety of others. Drivers are encouraged to put electronic devices out of reach every time they get behind the wheel and speak up if they see a friend or family member texting while driving.
See related articles and the NHTSA distracted driving video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=S_-6EoNhitg
