Washington – In recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the American Trucking Associations is doubling down on efforts to encourage motorists to put their mobile devices down and practice safe, attentive driving.
“Distracted driving is a significant threat to our industry’s goal of zero highway fatalities,” said ATA Vice President of Safety Policy Dan Horvath. “While we should avoid distractions all year long, Distracted Driving Awareness Month is a good time to recognize that we all need to do more to improve highway safety by putting our phones and other devices down, focusing on the task of driving.
“The trucking industry has long been subject to a mobile device ban, and we have seen the positive impact that reducing distractions can have, so we believe that extending similar bans to all drivers – or at the very least, encouraging all drivers to practice personal responsibility can improve safety,” he said.
For nearly a decade, ATA has supported bans on handheld mobile device use by drivers, as well as enhanced educational and enforcement campaigns. In addition, ATA has committed to working with the Department of Transportation through the National Roadway Safety Strategy to use our resources – including America’s Road Team and the Share the Road program to educate motorists about the importance of being attentive and alert while behind the wheel.
“As a professional driver, I am amazed at the number of people I see on the roads driving with one hand – or sometimes no hands – on the wheel while they text, scroll, put makeup on or even reading a book,” said Share the Road Professional Driver Ron Round, Pottle’s Transportation LLC. “Taking your eyes off the road for just three seconds can mean you miss nearly a football field of roadway. Its unsafe and drivers owe it to the motorists they share the road with to give driving their full attention.”