Distracted driving is a growing concern across the country, and South Florida is no exception. Every day, countless drivers are taking their eyes off the road for just a few seconds, which is often long enough to cause devastating accidents. Recent statistics show that distracted driving is involved in 1 in 3 serious injury crashes in the region.
A person may not operate a motor vehicle while manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers, symbols, or other characters into a wireless communications device or while sending or reading data on such a device for the purpose of non-voice interpersonal communication, including, but not limited to, communication methods known as texting, e-mailing, and instant messaging.
Put it Down Campaign
Distracted driving has become a growing issue with the rise of handheld devices and new technologies. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is dedicated to reducing crashes caused by distractions behind the wheel. Their “Put it Down” campaign aims to:
- Educate drivers on the dangers of distracted driving
- Highlight the risks and consequences of these behaviors
- Encourage families, schools, businesses, and organizations to adopt strategies to reduce distracted driving
- Promote road safety for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians
- Raise awareness about Florida’s distracted driving laws
Safe Phone Zones
In June 2015, FDOT, in collaboration with GEICO Insurance, launched a statewide initiative to combat distracted driving. As part of this campaign, Florida created 64 “Safe Phone Zones” at Rest Areas, Welcome Centers, and Turnpike Service Plazas. These zones offer drivers safe locations to stop and use their phones for calls, texts, or apps, making Florida the state with the most designated Safe Phone Zones.
Reducing distracted driving is key goal for every city. Each one of us can help prevent these crashes by simply paying full attention to the road. Together, we can work towards eliminating these preventable crashes.
