The National Safety Council has marked April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month by urging drivers to take simple, immediate steps to reduce distractions and protect everyone on the road.
In 2024, more than 3,000 people died in distraction-affected crashes – an average of about nine lives lost every day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Safety experts believe the actual number could be higher, as no standardized method exists to reliably capture distraction as a contributing factor in crashes.
The NSC is reminding drivers that distractions come in many forms including phones, infotainment systems and passenger interactions and is urging drivers before getting behind the wheel to take steps to minimize distractions:
- Set navigation in advance,
- Put phones on do not disturb,
- Adjust infotainment settings before driving
- Pull over safely if something requires attention
“No one should ever get hurt or lose their life because of a text or a phone call,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC CEO. “By keeping our eyes on the road and our hands on the wheel, we all have the power and responsibility to make our roads safe for everyone. The National Safety Council calls on every driver to travel distraction free. Doing so will save lives.”
