TxDOT observes Distracted Driving Awareness month with new campaign

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — In observance of April being Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Texas Department of Transportation is reminding drivers that when behind the wheel, nothing is more important than the road ahead.

This month, the department is launching its Talk. Text. Crash. campaign to emphasize that texting while driving is not only risky but also illegal.

Some safety tips to remember are:

• Stay focused
• Keep both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
• Put your phone away Use "Do not Disturb" mode while driving.
• Pull over if needed
• If you must send a message, stop in a safe place first.

To put it into perspective, at 55 mph, looking away for a few seconds is equivalent to driving the length of a football field blindfolded.

Additionally, below is a breakdown by city of how much distracted driving contributed to accidents in the Rio Grande Valley:

• in Brownsville in 2024, there were 69 traffic crashes that involved distracted driving (distraction, driver inattention, or cell phone use), resulting in no fatalities and two serious injuries.
• In Edinburg in 2024, there were 114 traffic crashes that involved distracted driving (distraction, driver inattention, or cell phone use), resulting in no fatalities and two serious injuries.
• In Harlingen in 2024, there were 114 traffic crashes that involved distracted driving (distraction, driver inattention, or cell phone use), resulting in no fatalities and one serious injury.
• In McAllen in 2024, there were 210 traffic crashes that involved distracted driving (distraction, driver inattention, or cell phone use), resulting in no fatalities and four serious injuries.
• In Pharr in 2024, there were 132 traffic crashes that involved distracted driving (distraction, driver inattention, or cell phone use), resulting in one fatality and no serious injuries.
• In Weslaco in 2024, there were 60 traffic crashes that involved distracted driving (distraction, driver inattention, or cell phone use), resulting in no fatalities and one serious