Pay Attention

Towns pair up with DOT and NHTSA for safer streets

It hasn’t even been 20 years since the first true smartphone – the ubiquitous iPhone – was released. And in that short time, they have become our constant companions, even when they shouldn’t. Like when we’re driving, for instance. Towns and cities across the state like West Hartford have paired with the Department and Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in April for Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

For anyone paying attention, pun intended, distracted driving has become an issue of astounding magnitude. Dangerous and deadly, people have begun to casually use their cell phones while they are driving. According to the NHTSA, over 3,500 people in 2021 alone were killed by distracted driving, or nearly 10 people every day of the year. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In a post about their participation in National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the West Hartford Police Department gave these tips to drivers on their social media page:

• When you get behind the wheel, be an example to your family and friends by putting your phone away. Texting and driving is not safe behavior.

• If you struggle to ignore your phone notifications, activate the “Do Not Disturb” feature or put your silenced device in your vehicle’s trunk, glove box, or back seat until you arrive safely at your destination.

• If you are expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location. Once you are safely off the road and parked, it is safe to text.

• Give control of your phone to your passenger. Let them respond to calls or messages.

• Never engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.

• Even when hands-free, do not stream or watch movies or videos.

• If you see someone texting while driving, speak up. Tell them to stop what they are doing because it is dangerous. If someone catches you texting while driving and tells you to put your phone away, put it down.

• Remember, when you get behind the wheel, Put the Phone Away or Pay.

The last bullet is a reminder that texting while driving is still an illegal activity. During several days in the month of April, the town of West Hartford as well as other town and cities participating will be “looking for drivers who choose to ignore Connecticut’s hand-held mobile electronics laws.”

While the adoption of smartphones was swift, so was the rise of distracted driving. And until the next great technology – self-driving cars – is finally realized in a safe and effective manner, it will still be unsafe and illegal to operate your phone while you operate your vehicle. West Hartford says Put the Phone Away or Pay.