National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
News 11 reporter Melissa Zaremba spoke with police about our local numbers and what we all need to do to stay alert
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY-TV) - 10,000 people died nationwide in car crashes in 2021 due to distracted driving.
According to The National Road Safety Foundation, that's the highest number of deaths ever in one year.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Driver distraction is one of the major factors in fatal crashes and cell phone distraction is the biggest factor in pedestrian deaths.
The National Road Safety Foundation says education can help limit distraction while behind the wheel.
According to the National Road Safety Foundation in 2020 over 1,000 people in Arizona died on roads and highways throughout the state.
That’s up 8% from the previous year and the highest it’s been in 12-years.
“It’s kind of ironic because fewer people have been on the roads since the pandemic there’s been less driving, but what’s been happening, unfortunately, is those people that are driving a lot are just going faster, they're not following the rules either they’re speeding there driving more aggressively,” said Director of Public Relations of the National Road Safety Foundation David Reich.
The National Road Safety Foundation says states with hands-free laws have lower numbers.
As of 2021, Arizona has enforced stricter driving laws.
“For Arizona Law, you cannot have a cell phone or like a GPS device anything physically in your hand while your driving that is the law, but if it’s the instrument is in your car like a GPS that is in your car your phone is on a stand or something like that, that is okay, but to have it physically in your hand using it that is against the law,” Police Sergeant Public Affairs at Yuma Police Sgt. Lori Franklin.
Yuma Police Department says locals caught physically using a cell phone device while driving face fines of up to 250 dollars depending on if it’s a first or second offense.
“There is no reason to be using that cell phone even stopped at a light or stopped at a stop sign pull over to the side of the road if it’s that important of a message or that important of something that you have to have your phone in your hand pull over somewhere and do it safely,” said Sgt. Franklin.
The city of Yuma has its project drive safe program to monitor areas and make sure locals are always driving safely.
Anytime you decide to get behind the wheel remember to put your phones down and keep your eyes on the road.
The National Road Safety Foundation says there are other factors involved with distracted driving. but it’s important to always be aware of all your surroundings.
If you want to see if your driving some of your driving habits are considered distracting you can take the quiz here.
