In an effort to make our roads safer, Fulton County Safe Communities is creating awareness throughout Fulton County to stop distracted driving with the Stay Alive…Don’t Text And Drive campaign. Fulton County Safe Communities has pledged its support to help spread the message that distracted drivers are not only a danger to themselves, but everyone else on the road. Prom season is upon us, we want to make sure everyone arrives back to school safely on Monday morning.
“We all know that talking on our cell phones while driving is distracting, but that doesn’t stop most people from continuing to do it,” said Fulton County Sheriff, Roy Miller. “This effort is intended to educate our community about the dangers of cell phone use and other distractions while driving. We hope that once people see the statistics and realize the danger involved, they will change their driving habits to help protect themselves, their families, and others on the road.”
In 2012, 3,328 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver and an estimated additional 421,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver. That same year, eleven percent of fatal crashes were reported as distraction-affected crashes.
While anything that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off the task of driving is a hazard, there is heightened concern about the risks of texting while driving because it combines all three types of distraction – visual, manual and cognitive.
The national distracted driving effort focuses on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness and education – the same activities that have curbed drunk driving and increased seat belt use.
“Every driver in Fulton County has a role in this effort,” said Sheriff Miller. “However, we especially want to reach out to parents with teen drivers because we know that statistically, the under-20 age group had the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes.”
Fulton County Safe Communities’ goal with this campaign is simple – save lives by getting drivers to remember that the call or text CAN WAIT! Stay Alive…Don’t Text And Drive.
For more information regarding “Fulton County Safe Communities”, contact Rachel Kinsman, Fulton County Health Department at 419-337-0915. For information on traffic related issues and programs, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at www.nhtsa.gov.