AAA of Michigan is urging drivers to put down their cell phones and keep their eyes on the road during this Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Spokesperson Adrienne Woodland tells us phone use is the number one cause of distracted driving crashes. She says it’s not even a good idea to check your phone when stopped at a red light.
“AAA research has found that drivers can experience a hangover effect, when the mind stays distracted for up to 27 seconds after using smart phones or voice to text vehicle entertainment systems to send text messages,” Woodland said.
Woodland says Michigan had 51 fatal crashes in 2021 due to distracted driving, with 59 killed in those crashes. Nationally, distracted driving crashes killed 3,522 people in 2021. Meanwhile, she says 33% of drivers admitted to driving while holding and talking on a cell phone at least once in the past 30 days. AAA’s advice is to keep your phone out of site when behind the wheel. If you’re using it for navigation, program it to direct you before leaving.
