The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and the four county police departments are joining the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) annual U Drive U Text U Pay campaign as part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Through April 12, law enforcement will remind drivers about the dangers and consequences of texting and driving distracted.
Distracted driving includes texting, talking on the phone or to people in the vehicle, using the stereo, entertainment or navigation system, and eating and drinking.
Nearly 96 percent of drivers say it is very or extremely dangerous to read a text or email while driving. Yet, four out of 10 drivers admitted did so in the previous 30 days, according to the AAA Foundation.
“We are supporting NHTSA’s nationwide commitment to enforce cell phone and texting bans and to reduce traffic crashes caused by distracted drivers,” Ed Sniffen, HDOT deputy director of highway, said. “The ultimate goal of this effort is to protect us all from unnecessary injuries and deaths associated with using a cell phone while driving. These senseless crashes are preventable, and the focus should be on driving to ensure that everyone arrives alive.”
In 2019, 34.3 percent of traffic fatalities in Hawaii involved distracted drivers.