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Distracted Driving Awareness
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment, or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving. Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.
Consequences
Distracted driving is one of the fastest-growing safety issues on the roads today. Distracted drivers aren’t just a threat to themselves; they are a danger to everyone else on the road. The national distracted driving effort focuses on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness, and education. Using a cell phone while driving creates enormous potential for deaths and injuries on U.S. roads. In 2020, 3,142 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. We can all play a part in the fight to save lives by ending distracted driving.
Take the Pledge
The fight to end distracted driving starts with you. Make the commitment to drive phone-free today.
- Protect lives by never texting or talking on the phone while driving.
- Be a good passenger and speak out if the driver in my car is distracted.
- Encourage friends and family to drive phone-free.
Florida Laws Regarding Texting and Driving
Section 316.305:
Prohibits drivers in Florida from operating a motor vehicle while manually typing or texting on a wireless communication device. It also grants Florida law enforcement officers the authority to stop motor vehicle drivers and issue citations for texting while driving.
Section 316.306:
Prohibits drivers in Florida from using handheld wireless communications devices in school zones or active work zones. This means drivers may not talk on the phone in these areas unless they use hands-free devices.