One accident was a result of driving drunk. The other accident was a result of texting while driving. The results look identical. The damage is the same, the consequences are the same. If you would never, ever drive drunk then you should feel the same about using a phone while driving. Anyone that uses a phone while driving is just as guilty as someone that chooses to drive intoxicated. As harsh as this might sound, it is an important point to help drive home how each choice we make can be the difference between life or death.
Do The Right Thing and choose to treat driving as the responsibility and privilege that it is. Driving distracted in any way is just irresponsible. We can do better. Demand better. Show how much better we feel when we focus on driving to ensure everyone arrives in one piece. Many tragic accidents that cost innocent lives of roadside workers like police, tow truck operators, & construction workers could have been prevented by just paying attention to driving. The life you save could be your own, a person you love or the life of someone that you do not know. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE! DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE.
 
Don’t take for granted what a risk it is to glance away for just one second. Today, nine people won’t come home as a result of distracted driving. More than 1,000 people will have been injured because they or someone else did not pay attention behind the wheel.
 
NHTSA and the National Safety Council (NSC) are using April as the month to raise awareness about distracted driving. One way to do so is by mobilizing law enforcement officers across the US to look out for drivers texting or using their phone behind the wheel through the ‘U Drive. U Text. U Pay.’ campaign.
 
  • Nine percent of fatal crashes in 2016 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.
  • Six percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash.  
  • Nine percent of drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the times of the fatal crashes.
  • In 2016, there were 562 non-occupants (pedestrians, bicyclists, and others) killed in distraction-affected crashes.
  • In 2016, 70 percent of the distracted drivers in fatal crashes were male, as compared to 74 percent of drivers in all fatal crashes.
  • Hand-held cell phone use while driving is highest among 15- to 29-year-old drivers. 
  • Female drivers with a cell phone have been more likely to be involved in fatal distracted-driving crashes as compared to male drivers every year since 2012.
 
To prevent tragedies due to distracted driving, motorists are urged to:
 
  1. Turn off electronic devices and put them out of reach before starting to drive.
  2. Be good role models for young drivers and set a good example.
  3. Talk with your teens about responsible driving. Speak up when you are a passenger and your driver uses an electronic device while driving.
  4. Offer to make the call for the driver, so his or her full attention stays on the driving task.
  5. Always wear your seat belt. Seat belts are the best defense against unsafe drivers.
  6. All pedestrians and bicyclists should focus on their surroundings and not on their electronic devices.