October highlights distracted driving dangers

Distracted driving is a leading cause in fatal car crashes.  Cell phone use is a major distraction that endangers lives every day, and the motor club AAA urges all drivers to put down their mobile devices.  October is National Distracted Driving Awareness month.  Other behaviors that can cause fatal injury and crashes are checking and posting to social media, browsing music playlists, and reading emails.  2018 figures from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration show 2,839 people were killed and more than 400 thousand hurt in crashes involving distracted drivers.  And, despite what some drivers may think, hands-free is not risk-free.  Even with your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel, you are not safe unless your mind focuses on the drive.