April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and Philadelphia Insurance Companies has made it a priority to educate drivers on the importance of staying aware while behind the wheel.  Etler-Kettenacker Agency stands behind this campaign to make drivers aware of the dangers of driving while distracted.  First, we must admit we all do it.  Our cell phone rings and we glance to see where it is on the seat next to us or in our purse.  We glance away from the road just for a few seconds.  Later in this blog we will see what can occur in a few seconds.  First, what does the government consider distracted driving?  Distracted driving is any of the following activities:

• Texting

• Using and Cell Phone or Smartphone

• Eating and Drinking

• Talking to Passengers

• Grooming

• Reading (including Maps)

• Using a GPS

• Watching a Video

• Adjusting a Radio, CD Player or MP3 Player

Now that we see that we are all guilty of one or more of these things, I know I am, let’s look at the government statistics associated with distracted driving.  Why is sending a text message so dangerous?  It is estimated that it takes an average of 5 second to send a text.  Here is the alarming part; the five seconds you took your eyes off the road, if traveling 55 mph, you will have travelled the length of a football field blind-folded!  Why is distracted driving a problem and why is Distracted Driving Awareness Month important?  At any given moment during daylight hours in the U.S. there are 660,000 vehicles being operated while using a cell phone.  What damage does distracted driving cause?  In 2012, 3,328 people were killed in distraction related accidents and another 421,000 people were injured in MVAs that involved distracted drivers.  Who is most likely to be a distracted driver?  If you guessed teens, you are correct but they are not alone.  Drivers in their 20’s make up 27% of the people involved in distracted driving fatalities.