CLAY COUNTY, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Each day, 10 people are killed in distracted driving crashes-contributing to the 37,000 people killed in crashes on U.S. roadways during 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
To help bring attention to the dangers associated with driving distracted, The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, announced today it will participate in a Distracted Driving Awareness Week April 16-20 and conduct an enforcement campaign of Illinois’ distracted driving laws.
“No distraction-whether texting or talking on the phone-is ever worth the loss of life on the roadway,” said Sheriff Andy Myers.
“These senseless deaths can easily be prevented if drivers simply choose to focus on the core task of driving when behind the wheel. We aim to do our part to help keep Clay County roads safer.”
The annual Illinois Distracted Driving Awareness Week is a coordinated effort between the Illinois Sheriff’s Association, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP), AAA, The Illinois State Police, The Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois High School and College Driver Education Association (IHSCDEA) and nearly 300 local law enforcement throughout Illinois to educate motorists about the danger of driving while distracted and enforcing the laws on Illinois’ roadways.
Last year’s DDAW efforts resulted in over 18,000 warnings and citations for distracted driving offenses.
In addition to traffic enforcement, Clay County School Resource Officer Chad Milner, in conjunction with Richard Rudy and Lisa Cash, Country Financial Representatives, plan to participate in educational activities with the North Clay School District.
They plan to:
- Teach about the dangers of distracted driving in high school classes and/or assemblies.
- Work with teens to display distracted driving posts around community.
- Promote distracted driving messages through department’s social media channels.
- Produce distracted driving videos and Anti-Distracted Driving pledges.
- End the week with an assembly featuring the Top National Distracted Driving Speaker/Advocates Jacy Good and Steve Johnson.
For more information on Illinois Distracted Driving Awareness Week, visit www.iddaw.org.
These partnerships have been formed to help further a traffic safety culture in Illinois and to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries resulting from distracted driving.
Please help the ISA, ILACP, AAA, Country Financial and The Clay County Sheriff’s Office to keep Illinois’ roadways safe.