Salt River Police Officer killed in Loop 101 crash by person texting while driving 1.08.19

Driving under the influence of electronics needs to stop! 4.16.19

License to Kill; the Troubling Truth About Teen Driving 12.06.17

Distracted Driving is as Dangerous a Crisis Today as Impaired Driving was Decades Ago 11.9.19

• At 55 mph, sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for about 5 seconds, long enough to cover a football field. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC)

• In 2018, 5,013 of the total number of crashes were from electronic distractions while driving. This included 18 fatalities and 1609 injuries, (Arizona Department of Transportation, ADOT)

• 69% of U.S. drivers between the ages of 18 and 64 admitted to using their cell phone while driving. (TeenSafe)

• Every day in the U.S., approximately 9 people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. (CDC)

• 660,000 – Estimated number of drivers using electronic devices while driving during the day nationally. (NHTSA)

• 2018 ranks as the third deadliest of the previous decade on America’s roadways with 36,750 fatalities from risky behavior, such as drinking, speeding and distraction. (USA Today)

• Texting while driving increases the likelihood of a crash by 23 times. (TeenSafe)

• Cell phone use is involved in approximately 1.6 million auto crashes each year, causing half a million injuries and prompting 6,000 death annually. (USDOT)

• Texting while driving is 6x more likely to cause a crash than intoxication. Some texting while driving mimics the driving ability of someone who has consumed four beers in an hour. (Virginia Tech Transportation)

• A poll conducted by AAA reported that 94% of teen drivers acknowledged the dangers of texting and driving, but 35% admitted to texting and driving despite the danger. In another survey conducted with drivers of all ages, 42% of drivers admitted to reading texts or emails while driving. (AAA Transportation)

It is illegal in Arizona to talk or text on a cellphone while driving

Read the statute here.

Distracted driving in Arizona could now cost you up to $250 1.1.21

Click here for full story.

New year brings new laws in Arizona 12.26.20

Click here for full story.

Put down the phone: Arizona bans cellphone use while driving 4.26.19

Click here for full story.

Novice/teen drivers banned from cellphone use during permit phase and for the first 6 months of the graduated license phase 7.01.18

Click here for more information.

School bus drivers prohibited from cellphone use while behind the wheel R13-13-104 D-28.

Cell Phone Use Best Practice:

No driver should use a cell phone while driving. This includes reading, writing or sending text or electronic messages, surfing the web, talking on a handsfree or handheld drive and voice to text. All drivers should turn off cell phones while operating a motor vehicle.

A reminder that it is illegal to text and drive.

Distractions now join alcohol and speeding as leading factors in fatal and serious injury crashes. According to the National Safety Council, 28% of motor vehicle crashes involve the use of cell phones, resulting in approximately 1.6 million crashes annually. During business hours or not, crashes can affect your business, resulting in missed work and unnecessary employer costs, including:

• Insurance and Liability Premiums
• Workers’ Compensation/Medical and Disability Contributions
• Vehicle or Property Damage
• Crash-Related Legal Expenses
• Lost Productivity

Three steps to help protect employees from distracted driving:

1. Create a Policy

   Develop a formal, written policy stating the company's position on mobile device use and other distractions while driving. Download a free policy kit provided by the National Safety Council.

2. Communicate the Importance

   Effecting policies are communicated often and in various forms. Send regular messaging to employees via emails, newsletters, social media and training sessions to reinforce the policy.

3. Lead by Example

   Company leadership must promote the desired safe driving behavior in order to create a company culture where cell phone use while driving is unacceptable. Inform employees of the importance of while they are on the road, no phone call or email is more important than their safety.

Implement a Cell Phone Ban

Businesses without policies prohibiting cell phone use while driving are exposing their employees and themselves to increased crash risk and liability. The National Safety Council recommends policies prohibiting both hands-free and handheld devices for all employees.

A corporate cell phone band might ask employees to: turn off wireless phones or other mobile devices before starting the car. Recommend installing a communication restriction application in which informs contacts who call that calls will be returned when the driver is no longer driving. In the case of an emergency, pull over to a safe location and put the vehicle in park to answer a call.

Educate Employees

Promote distraction-free driving as a way to ensure a safer workplace and protect employees from preventable injury. ACNSC recommends the following resources to help create a safer driving culture:

• A distracted driving presentation is a great way to get started on raising awareness of the dangers of this deadly habit. To schedule a presentation, please contact us.
• Enroll your employees in our Defensive Driving course to learn the important strategies included in promoting safer driving on the road. Please visit https://www.acnsc.org/

GET INVOLVED:

There are many things you can do to avoid a preventable collision.

• Enroll in NSC’s 4-hour Defensive Driving course to learn how to become a defensive driver.

• Practice the rules of the road always.

• Control your speed. It is not worth the rush. Leave 10 minutes earlier.

• Keep a safe distance between you and the car(s) in front of you.

• Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updates on DDAffectedMeAZ.

RELATED ARTICLES:

• Tips for Preventing Distracted Driving – AAA Exchange
  https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/distracted-driving/tips-for-preventing-distracted-driving/#.Xe--sehKiUk

• Technology Can Reduce Cell Phone Distracted Driving – NSC
  https://www.nsc.org/road-safety/safety-topics/distracted-driving/technology-solutions

• How Employers Can Improve Their Distracted Driving Prevention Strategies – Truce Software
  https://trucesoftware.com/blog/employers-improve-distracted-driving-prevention-strategies/

• Prevention as a Cure – Kids Can Prevent Distracted Driving, Too – EndDD.org
  https://www.enddd.org/end-distracted-driving/safety-on-the-road/prevention-as-a-cure/

• Distracted Driving: It’s Not Just Your Cellphone – The Hartford
  https://extramile.thehartford.com/auto/driving/distracted-driving/

TV Advertisement:

Radio Advertisement:

KTAR Interview-Rick Murray:

https://ktar.com/

KTAR Commentary-Jim Sharpe:

https://ktar.com/

ABC15 Interview-Operation Safe Roads:

https://abc15.com/

I miss me very much. - Randy Moe

Randy was visiting his family in North Dakota for a member's birthday celebration.

Then, in the matter of minutes, a Distracted Driver struck him at 50 mph.

Distracted Driving Affected Randy, his family, and the community. Read Randy's story.

Hold the wheel, not your phone.
#LifesMoreImportant