As April winds down, a critical spotlight shines upon the perilous habits too many embrace behind the wheel. According to a recent post by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, the range of distracted driving behaviors is not limited to the clandestine scroll or the casual text; it even extends to changing the radio station, or the swipe of a mascara brush. Yet, none hits quite as deadly as the epidemic of smartphone use while driving — texting, talking, and engaging with social media. The Facebook post highlighted that "texting, which includes messaging, is considered the most dangerous type of distracted driving because it combines visual, manual and cognitive distraction."
This focus comes in the wake of April's Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office referenced the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) campaign, "#PutthePhoneAwayorPay," which sounds an alarm about the fatal consequences and legal penalties accompanying distracted driving incidents.
Their sobering message is not to be taken lightly, fines hang over the heads of those who dare to reach for their devices. A call to action echoes through the community, urging drivers to take the pledge against a dangerous, and tragically common, habit.
