The Gallatin Police Department will be partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) to promote the fourth annual Thumbs Down to Texting and Driving campaign during the month of April. April is nationally recognized as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Agencies participate in the campaign by promoting safe driving habits and increasing awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. Throughout April, the THSO will use #ThumbsDownTN to promote the campaign via social media.
“When you’re operating a vehicle, engaging in any activity that takes your attention off the road is considered distracted driving. Common distractions include, Visual distractions, taking your eyes off of the roadway and looking at a crash scene that has happened, items for sale on the side of the roadway, looking to see how full a parking lot is or reading texts while driving. Manual distractions, taking your hands off of the steering wheel to pick up objects inside your vehicle, reading the newspaper and texting while driving. Cognitive distraction, talking with passengers, being on your cell phone and thinking about anything other than the task of driving safely and thinking about other things that you are wanting to complete throughout the day. ” said Sgt. Scottie King
In 2017, there were 24,781 traffic crashes statewide where distracted driving was a contributing factor, according to the Tennessee Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN). Of those crashes, 120 were fatal.
“Texting and driving is a serious issue,” said THSO Director Vic Donoho. “The slightest distraction could lead to a fatal crash. We caution all drivers to remain focused and alert at all
times. The THSO and law enforcement partners are cracking down on distracted driving in our shared mission to Drive to Zero Fatalities across Tennessee.”
For more information, or to learn more about texting and driving, visit www.tntrafficsafety.org/distracteddriving.
