CHARLESTON, W.Va. — This Mother’s Day, the best gift you can give isn’t found in a store — it’s a safe arrival. The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program is teaming up with the U.S. Department of the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) to launch a special enforcement and awareness campaign from Saturday, May 9 through Sunday, May 10, 2026, to combat distracted driving during Mother’s Day weekend.
With Mother’s Day being one of the busiest travel weekends of the spring, the GHSP is reminding drivers that a single text or a quick social media check can turn a day of celebration into a lifetime of grief.
According to recent data, thousands of lives are lost annually due to distracted driving. This weekend, the GHSP is asking every driver to make mom proud.
- Silence the phone: Turn on “Do Not Disturb While Driving” before putting the vehicle in gear.
- Designate a texter: If you are traveling with family, let a passenger handle the GPS and messages.
- Eyes on the road: Remember that at 55 mph, looking at a phone for five seconds is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded.
“The priority is simple: everyone deserves to get home safely,” said Jack McNeely, Director of the GHSP. “A text message is never worth more than a human life. This weekend’s enforcement efforts are about ensuring that every chair at the dinner table stays filled.”
Throughout the weekend, residents will see an increased presence of law enforcement officers at key intersections and high-traffic corridors. Officers will be specifically looking for handheld device violations as part of the Put the Phone Away or Pay initiative.
For more information on distracted driving, visit NHTSA.gov/DistractedDriving.
For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.
