Distracted Driving
October is Dristracted Driving Awareness Month
#IDontDUIT
I Don't Drive Under the Influence of Technology!
Distracted driving is any activity that redirects a driver's attention away from driving. This could be phone usage, eating, drinking, talking to other occupants of the vehicle, or even petting your dog.
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One of the largest influences on Distracted Driving is Technology. Although it's often referred to as "Texting and Driving," the influence of technology goes far beyond just texting.
Driving Under the Influence of Technology (DUI-T) comes in many forms:
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Texting and Driving
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Searching for a song on your phone.
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Looking at the map on the in-dash display
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Watching a video
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Sending a SnapChat
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Liking a Facebook Post
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Switching radio stations on the touch screen of the car.
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Making a phone call
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Digging through your bag to find your headphones.
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Reading a post during a red light
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Trying to take a photo of the accident that has had the road closed for the last 20 minutes.
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We live in a technology-based world and it has our attention! We are constantly under the influence of the technology that surrounds us. It's in our pocket, on our wrist, in our ear, and our vehicles are becoming computers on wheels.
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This is all wonderful except when we are unable to focus on driving while driving. The consequences of Driving Under the Influence of Technology (DUI-T) are massive.
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In 2018, 2,841 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
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Montana PBS Special
Distracted: Eyes Off The Road
Special | 56m 19s |Video has closed captioning.
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We've all seen it, we've all done it, and yet it continues to happen on Montana's roads every day. This documentary explores the consequences of driving while distracted through the stories of those who have experienced it first hand. Can we put the brakes on this behavior?
Aired: 05/20/14
Rating: TV-G
Greater Montana Foundation, University of Montana's School of Journalism
We do not drive down this road alone.
Here are other groups, organizations, and entities driving toward distracted free roadways.
The Montana Department of Transportation's guiding mission is to serve the public by providing a transportation system and services that emphasize quality, safety, cost-effectiveness, economic vitality, and sensitivity to the environment.
Impact Teen Drivers is an organization intended to help teens reduce their risk of being involved in auto collisions, particularly those caused by everyday distractions and inexperienced decision making. Truly one of the best distracted driving educational programs on the planet!
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's focus on distracted driving emphasizes the fact that the deadly trend of distracted driving is getting worse.
Decide To Drive is about you, the driver. The captain of your car. And the things you can do to avoid all forms of distracted driving and stay safer behind the wheel. Check out the alarming facts. Take advantage of the tools on this site. Join the conversation. Report the distracted driving you’ve seen. And Decide to Drive safely.
EndDD.org is dedicated to ending distracted driving. EndDD.org was founded in 2009 and is a project of the Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation, EndDD.org was founded by Casey’s parents, Joel Feldman and Dianne Anderson.
Texas Department of Transportation's Distracted Driving campaign, Talk, Text, Crash is a crucial call-to-action encouraging drivers to keep their heads up and pay attention when behind the wheel.