Kentucky recognizes Distracted Driving Month

BY JENNIFER MOONSONG
GLASGOW NEWS 1
Recent Kentucky interstate highway drivers have likely noted electronic highway billboards saying, “Keep your eyes on the road; it wants all of your attention.” This is part of the campaign to reduce roadway fatalities, in conjunction with Distracted Driving Month.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver distraction is the leading factor in most crashes, causing 80 percent of vehicular crashes.
Over the past decade, distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of crashes on American roadways. According to the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, each year in Kentucky, distracted driving results in more than 50,000 crashes, more than 15,000 injuries and approximately 200 deaths.
In fact, the problem is so prevalent in the Bluegrass State, the Buckle Up, Phone Down campaign was launched. Laws have also been put into motion to help curb the trend. For example, House Bill 415, signed into law on April 15, 2010, bans texting for drivers of all ages while the vehicle is in motion. For drivers 18 and over, it allows the use of global positioning devices and reading, selecting or entering a telephone number or name for the purpose of making a call; however, these measures have been met with marginal success.
Taking your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel or mind off of the task can lead to visual, manual and cognitive distractions. Interacting with children or pets, reaching for objects, eating, drinking, smoking, grooming or using electronics are primary things that distract.
The Kentucky State Police will also be participating in distracted-driver awareness.
“KSP will be part of the six-state trooper project that focuses on distracted driving. Units will be patrolling high-traffic areas looking of distracted drivers,” said Trooper Daniel Priddy, public affairs officer for KSP’s Post 3 area.
To learn more about distracted driving laws in Kentucky, click here.