| April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and AAA Texas is urging drivers to eliminate distractions behind the wheel as thousands of lives continue to be lost each year to preventable crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,275 people were killed and more than 324,000 were injured in distracted‑driving crashes in 2023—an average of nine deaths and nearly 900 injuries every day. Safety experts say even a brief lapse in attention can have fatal consequences. “Driving safely requires your full attention,” said Doug Shupe, Corporate Communications Manager for AAA Texas. “Every time a driver looks away from the road, the risk of a serious crash increases. National Distracted Driving Awareness Month reminds us that safe driving is about more than following the rules. It is about making a conscious choice to focus on the road and protect lives.” Why Distracted Driving Is So Dangerous Distracted driving includes any activity that diverts attention from driving, such as: - Texting or talking on a phone
- Scrolling social media
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting music, GPS, or vehicle controls
Texting remains one of the most dangerous distractions. Reading or sending a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for about five seconds—the equivalent of traveling the length of a football field blindfolded at 55 mph. Drivers Know the Risk—But Many Still Take It Despite widespread awareness, risky behavior remains common. The latest AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Culture Index found that nearly all drivers consider distracted driving extremely or very dangerous: - 97% say scrolling on social media is dangerous
- 94% say texting or emailing is dangerous
- 90% say reading on a handheld phone is dangerous
Yet many admitted doing it anyway: - 28% said they texted while driving
- 37% said they read messages
- 36% said they talked on a handheld phone
Texas Focus | 
