April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. As part of its efforts to prevent distracted driving and enhance road safety, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the West Virginia State Police to remind drivers to prioritize safe road practices and avoid distractions while driving with this clear message: Don’t Drive Distracted. Eyes Forward.

Distracted driving involves cell phone use or any activity that takes attention away from the task of driving. It’s risky driving behavior that endangers everyone on the road, from the distracted driver and other drivers, to passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

In 2022, statewide in West Virginia, there were 1,860 distracted driving crashes, 835 injuries, and 4 fatalities.

According to NHTSA, 15,960 people died and around 1.8 million people were injured in distraction-affected crashes over the five-year period from 2018 to 2022. In 2022 alone, there were 3,308 people killed in traffic crashes involving at least one distracted driver, 8% of all traffic fatalities that year. An estimated additional 289,310 people were injured in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers in 2022.

“The bottom line is distracted driving can be prevented”, said Jack McNeely, Director of the GHSP. “Drivers can prioritize safe driving by keeping their hands on the wheel, their eyes on the road, and their focus on driving,” continued McNeely.

The West Virginia State Police will be conducting regular routine patrols throughout the State during the month of April looking for violations of Distracted Driving. According to Sergeant McClung, “Troopers will be targeting Distracted Driving Violations, and issuing citations for these violations in a hope to bring awareness to the motoring public about the dangers of Distracted Driving.”

Cell phone use while driving is dangerous. Break the cycle. Remember: Don’t Drive Distracted. Eyes Forward. Help save lives and be an example to others by committing to that message. For more information, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving.

For more information on the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.