Distracted Driving Awareness Week

April 26, 2017

In support of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) asked the Governor of the State of Illinois to declare April 24th through 28th as Illinois Distracted Driving Awareness Week in an effort to bring attention to the dangers and consequences associated with driving distracted.  Governor Rauner issued the proclamation and both houses passed resolutions identifying April 24th through the 28th as Illinois Distracted Driving Awareness Week. 

The Dixon Police Department will be participating in this event this week as well.  This campaign will involve the enforcement of applicable State distracted driving laws.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

  • 3,477 people were killed and an estimated 391,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015. That is a 9-percent increase in fatalities as compared to the previous year.
  • 10 percent of fatal crashes, 15 percent of injury crashes, and 14 percent of all police reported motor vehicle crashes in 2015 were reported as distraction affected crashes.
  • Texting while driving has become an especially problematic trend among millennials. Young drivers, 16 to 24 years old, have been observed using handheld electronic devices while driving at higher rates than older drivers since 2007.

Please help all of us keep Illinois’ roadways safe by following the simple rules of not texting or using electronic devices while driving.  

Last modified on April 26, 2017 - 7:39 am