FATHER WARNS OF DANGERS OF DISTRACTED DRIVING

  

An Austin father is warning Texas drivers of the dangers of distracted driving.

In April of 2014, Mike Myers’ daughter Elana was killed in a single-vehicle crash on her way home from college.  Authorities say the cause of the wreck was distracted driving.

The Texas Department of Transportation reports over 100,000 traffic crashes statewide each year, involving distracted driving.

In April, TxDOT kicks off its annual “Talk, Text, Crash” campaign, urging drivers to put away cell phones, avoid distractions and give the road their full attention. TxDOT’s safety campaign coincides with National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

“If Elana’s death has any purpose, I hope that it teaches others the dangers of driving while distracted,” Myers said. “I dream that there was a way to hit the rewind button so she could learn the lesson without having to pay the price.”

“Last year, driver distractions killed 463 Texans and seriously injured another 3,076 Texans,” said Texas Transportation Commissioner Jeff Moseley. “Texans are dying on our roads simply because some drivers cannot wait until they’re stopped to check their email or make a phone call. That one text, post or phone call is not worth injuring or killing yourself, or someone else.”

In 2015, Texas had 103,576 traffic crashes related to distraction – an increase of 3 percent from 2014. Distracted driving-related crashes are highest among younger drivers ages 16 to 34.

The “Talk, Text, Crash” campaign reminds drivers to wait until later to talk or text. While mobile phone use is the most recognized driving distraction, TxDOT also urges drivers to avoid the following high-risk, behind-the-wheel activities:

• Posting to social media
• Checking email
• Eating
• Grooming
• Reading
• Programming a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player or other audio devices

Any type of behavior that draws a driver’s attention away from the road is dangerous.