A man uses his cell phone as he drives through traffic. Even though distracted driving in Butler County is down approximately 30% since 2018, it remains a problem. Associated Press file photo

LM Otero

Distracted driving in Butler County is down approximately 30% since 2018, and it is down 60% statewide.

That’s quite a significant drop, but there is room for improvement.

According to the latest statistics available from the National Transportation Safety Board, 3,142 people died and 424,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2020.

That’s more than nine people killed and more than 1,153 injured each day. Distracted driving is cited in 9% of all fatal vehicle collisions.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that phone use is involved in 12% of all vehicle accidents, but other distracting behaviors can be equally dangerous.

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with your vehicle’s entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

In Pennsylvania, distracted driving citations can be issued for “using headphones while driving, using a handheld mobile phone while driving a commercial vehicle or texting while driving.” A violation carries a $50 fine in addition to court costs and fees.

Even though the numbers are down, distracted driving remains a problem, according to Bertha Cazy, public information and community service officer for state police Troop D.

“Because you’re not focused on driving, even if you’re eating and driving, that’s going to limit your reaction time if you’re not paying attention to what’s going on around you,” said Cazy. She also theorized that the increased use of “smart cars” — in which a driver can control their phone and other devices from the steering wheel — could be responsible for the decline statewide.

Eating can wait. Text messages can wait. Phone calls can wait. If it can’t wait, pull over rather than risk an accident.

Smart drivers don’t use smartphones. Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel, not on your device. Stay focused as you navigate your 2-ton vehicle on our roads and highways.

— JGG