May 2, 2019
Even though car usage is down across the state of Illinois, fatal motor vehicle accidents are on the rise. And Illinois State Police distracted driving is a leading contributor to the increasing number of deaths on the roadways.
In an effort to curb distracted driving, state troopers are making more traffic stops and issuing more tickets to people using their phones behind the wheel. Police have already issued almost 4,000 tickets for distracted driving across the Chicago area in 2019 alone.
By the numbers
Trying to multitask while driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents nationwide.
- Distracted driving is a factor in 1.6 million North American crashes annually
- Distracted driving killed over 3,000 people last year.
- In 2018, Illinois State Police issued 14,268 tickets for talking on the phone or texting
- You’re 400 percent more likely to get into a crash if you’re using a phone
Not just phones
Distracted driving isn’t limited to cellphone use. Distracted driving is any action that takes your eyes or your mind off the road. This could include eating, talking to passengers, dealing with pets, putting on makeup, adjusting the radio or more.
Eliminate distractions
Though most of us are guilty of driving distracted at some point, there are ways to avoid it.
- Invest in a voice-activated navigation and stereo system that links to your phone
- Turn your phone to airplane mode when behind the wheel
- If you can’t resist using your phone, keep it in the trunk
- Give your phone to a passenger to handle calls and texts
