TxDOT Urges Drivers Not To Drive Distracted

Texas transportation safety officials are urging drivers to give the road their full attention. The message comes as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) observes Distracted Driving Awareness month and reports that distracted driving deaths increased 10% in 2022. 

The deadly consequences of distracted driving are all too real for one Texas mom.  TxDOT says Karin Zaltsman's 13-year-old daughter was killed when a driver made the decision to take their eyes off the road to text while driving.   

"Emily didn't die in an accident," said Karin Zaltsman of her late daughter. "Emily died in a crash that could have been prevented."

TxDOT says Emily is one of more than 2,000 people killed due to distracted drivers since 2017. Safety officials say distracted driving deaths increased in Texas by 10% in 2022 and that approximately one of every six crashes on Texas roadways last year was attributed to distracted driving.

Nationally, the National Safety Council says its analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data finds that more than 3,000 people died in distraction-affected crashes in 2020.

"Distracted driving is a choice, and it has devastating consequences for communities," said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. "Texting, adjusting audio or navigation systems, or scrolling on a social media site can wait until you're safely parked. We're urging Texans to make the right choice and put the phone away."

Texting While Driving Is Illegal

Don't forget, too, that texting while driving is also a crime. Since Sept. 1, 2017, it has been illegal to read, write or send a text while driving in Texas, and violators can face a fine of up to $200.

Tips to Prevent Distracted Driving

TxDOT says distracted driving crashes are 100% preventable and offers these tips to help drivers steer clear of a potentially deadly situation:

• Always give driving your full attention—any distraction is dangerous.
• Put your phone away, turn it off or use an app or phone settings to block texts and calls while driving.
• Pull off the road entirely and come to a complete stop before you use your phone.
• Tell friends, family and coworkers you won't respond to texts or calls while driving.
• Avoid eating or drinking until you are parked.

TxDOT's "Talk. Text. Crash." distracted driving awareness campaign is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel to help end the streak of daily deaths. TxDOT says that Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways.

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