U.S. roads are set to witness increased police presence from April 9 to 13 as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s Put the Phone Away or Pay campaign to address distracted driving, which injured over 315,000 people and claimed 3,208 lives in 2024.
Distracted driving, mainly due to the use of a cell phone, compromises a driver’s attention and reflexes, heightening the chances of accidents. While connected technology may have eased the lives of people, it has reportedly contributed to reduced attention spans.
That means, regardless of the activity one is engaged in, including driving, the urge to glance at the smartphone at short intervals is becoming a big problem on the road. The NHTSA specified that anything that shifts a driver’s focus from the road is a distraction, with the cell phone being the most common cause. It stated:
“Distracted driving comes in many forms: adjusting the radio or GPS, applying makeup, eating and drinking. But it’s cell phone use — specifically, texting, talking, and social media use — that is the most common distraction. Texting, which includes messaging, is considered the most dangerous type of distracted driving because it combines visual, manual and cognitive distraction.”
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As a result, the NHTSA’s Put the Phone Away or Pay campaign is here to remind drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. Drivers will notice increased police presence on the road in the coming days. The statement read:
“NHTSA’s Put the Phone Away or Pay campaign reminds drivers of the deadly dangers and the legal consequences – including fines – of texting and other forms of messaging behind the wheel. In 49 states, as well as Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands, texting while driving is illegal. From April 9-13, you will see an increase in police enforcing texting and distracted-driving laws.”
The NHTSA has shared safety tips with drivers to curb incidents related to distracted driving. They include:
- Put the phone away in the trunk or activate the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode while driving to avoid being tempted by notifications.
- If you must use your phone, pull up to a safe location to park your car before unlocking the screen.
- If you have a passenger in the car, ask them to respond to calls or messages.
- When you see someone engaged in distracted driving, ask them to put the phone away. It could save someone’s life.
