4 weeks Ago By From Staff Reports
From Staff Reports Texas Department of Transportation officials are urging drivers to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel as part of the “Talk. Text. Crash” campaign aimed at preventing wrecks caused by distracted driving.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. In 2024, distracted driving contributed to 91,000 crashes in Texas that killed more than 370 people, said Nancy Winn, safety program manager for TxDOT. Distracted driving is the second most common factor in all crashes — and all of those deaths were preventable.
“Most people know that texting and driving is a bad idea,” Winn said. “But the truth is, anything that distracts you when you’re behind the wheel is dangerous. That includes texting, talking, eating or adjusting your music.
” Preventing distracted driving-related crashes is simple, Winn said. Drivers should put their phones away while driving, tell family members and friends they won’t respond to calls or texts while driving, pull off the road to use their phones and wait until their vehicle comes to a complete stop to perform any task requiring their attention — including texting, eating, drinking, reading, adjusting the cabin air temperature and scrolling through social media. “At 55 miles per hour, looking away from the road for just a few seconds is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded,” Winn said.
“Instead of risking your life and the life of others on the road, focus on the job of getting safely to your destination. “Driving requires focus. When you’re controlling a 2-ton vehicle, taking your eyes off the road for just a few seconds can cause a horrible crash.
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