AAA Urges You Not To Drive Intexticated

A father is driving with his three children in the back seat. His left hand is firmly on the steering wheel while his right hand is gripping a beer bottle.

Shocking, right? But would you be as shocked if the same man was holding a phone instead?

Distracted driving can be as devastating as driving under the influence. That’s the message of the AAA Don’t Drive Intexticated campaign. The above scenario plays out in a video made for the campaign.

Think of these statistics the next time you reach for the phone while driving, and click here for a look at how distracted driving can impact your daily commute.

More than 3,400 people were killed in 2016 as a result of distracted driving crashes.

Taking your eyes off the road for mere seconds can cause a crash. In just five seconds, a vehicle going 55 mph can travel the length of a football field.

Drivers can remain distracted for up to 27 seconds after using voice commands to change radio stations or send a text message.

Distracted driving tops the list of growing dangers on the road. Nearly 9 in 10 drivers believe it’s on the rise.

Using a hand-held electronic device while driving can earn you a ticket in several states including Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.

Sources: AAA, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

What do you do to avoid distractions when you’re behind the wheel? Share your tips in the comments.

For more on AAA’s campaign to curb distracted driving, visit AAA.com/DistractedDriving.