April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Driver distraction is a major contributing factor in many fatal crashes. In Louisiana, 371 people were killed and another 9,709 suffered a serious injury in 2023 because of a distraction either inside or outside of the vehicle. While the type of distraction is often reported as "unknown" in fatal crashes, we know that at least nine people died and 426 more were seriously injured in crashes involving a handheld mobile phone or other electronic device in 2023.

Although cell phone use and texting are two of the most common distractions, any activity that takes a driver's mind off of the task of driving, hands off of the steering wheel, or eyes off of the road is considered a distraction. Many states and local jurisdictions are passing laws that prohibit these behaviors.

Louisiana has enacted legislation that bans texting for all drivers, hands-free usage in school zones, and no cell phone usage (unless hands-free) for drivers holding a Class "E" learner's license or intermediate license. A study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that 6 out of 10 teen crashes involve driver distraction and more than half of teen drivers reported using a cell phone while driving and more than 1 in 4 reported typing or sending a text message while driving in the past 30 days.