Distractions are fine, but not on the road
With a new state law taking effect in Ohio to deter phone usage while on the road, Safe Communities of Wayne and Holmes Counties members continue to push the agenda of drivers putting away their phones and focusing on the road.
It’s time to put down the cell phone, pull yourself away from whatever television show or game you might be playing on the computer and pay attention to an important message.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
According to a phone company survey, almost 100% of teens agree that texting and driving is dangerous, but more than half admitted to doing it anyway, and the rest might not be willing to admit it.
But don’t think this rule of thumb is limited to teen drivers. Adults are guilty of distracted driving, too, whether it is the phone, the radio, gawking at the local landscape, tired driving or simply daydreaming about the day’s tasks at hand.
It may take only a matter of seconds to lose focus, but, if you are driving at 60 miles an hour, your eyes would be blind to the road while you drove the length of a football field. That’s why Safe Communities of Wayne and Holmes Counties continues its relentless effort to inform the public of the dangers of distracted driving.
“It’s a growing issue everywhere, and we aren’t exempt,” said Beth McCready, chairperson of Safe Communities.
She pointed out two recent disturbing accidents that included a pony cart and a bicycle as instances where distracted driving played a role.
“We want to make sure we continue to get that message out as much as possible,” McCready said. “Even one accident is one too many, and these types of tragedies can be avoided simply by putting down the phone, paying attention to the road when driving and adhering to the laws of the road.”
While much of the promotion of distracted driving awareness centers around today’s youth, McCready said one focal point that will be touched on in the upcoming days will be to connect with senior drivers.
“We haven’t connected a great deal with our senior drivers concerning distracted driving, and that is something we want to focus on,” she said. “I’m excited about making that connection.”
The recently signed House Bill 283 by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine should help put some teeth into Safe Communities’ effort.
The bill contains several safety measures championed by DeWine, including a wide ban on using and holding a phone while driving.
“Signing this bill today is a great honor because this legislation will, without a doubt, prevent crashes and save lives,” DeWine said. “Right now, too many people are willing to risk their lives while behind the wheel to get a look at their phones.”
Senate Bill 288 designates the use of cell phones and other electronic communications devices while driving as a primary traffic offense for all drivers and allows law enforcement to immediately pull over a distracted driver upon witnessing a violation.
Under the previous law, distracted driving was a primary offense only for juvenile drivers, preventing officers from stopping adult distracted drivers unless those drivers also committed a separate primary traffic violation, such as speeding or running a red light.
The bill helps ensure that Ohio law reflects modern realities while supporting law enforcement in its mission to keep drivers safe and should ultimately save lives.
McCready said Safe Communities will be promoting the month throughout its spring endeavors, especially during April.
“With the law coming out, promoting the message of distracted driving awareness becomes that much more critical,” McCready said. “And with more and more people getting out on the roadways in the spring, it’s a perfect time for us to share that message.”
Trivia: Which came first, the first official car race in America or the rearview mirror? (See the answer at the end of the story).
The history of Distracted Driving Awareness Month stems from the story of Shelley Forney. On November 25, 2008, Forney’s life was completely changed when a driver made the mistake of looking at their cell phone while in control of an SUV. Fourney’s 9-year-old daughter Erica was riding her bike home, just 15 pedals away when she was struck by the SUV head-on and passed away.
At the time, distracted driving was hardly covered in any media. Forney summoned up the courage to do something about it. She knew the story of Erica was avoidable, and if she could tell her story to enough people, it would save another person from having to live through the grief her family had to.
Forney went on to become an independent safety speaker and founded a distracted driving advocacy group named Focus Driven. She continued to speak to audiences for the next decade, appearing on Oprah, Larry King Live and many other shows and events. Erica’s story caught the attention of Representative Betsy Markey, and in 2010, she was invited to Washington DC to speak at a safety conference.
Stories like Forney’s are far too common and entirely avoidable today. Each year thousands of people die in car crashes due to cell phone and electronic device use. Safe Communities’ goal is simple: Someone’s willingness to put down their phone and focus on the road can save a life.
Thus, McCready and the rest of the Safe Communities committee encourage the public to join them in making an extra effort to avoid using cell phones and other items of distraction while on the road and make everyone safer.
Trivia Answer: The first official car race in America was conducted in 1895, nine years after Carl Benz designed the first automobile. The rearview mirror wasn’t introduced to cars until race car driver Ray Harroun put one on his car to see when challengers were catching up to him.
It worked, because Harroun, dubbed “The Little Professor,” would go on to win the Indianapolis 500 in 1911.