HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – April marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and law enforcement agencies across West Virginia are stepping up efforts to combat dangerous driving behaviors.
The Huntington Regional Highway Safety Program has partnered with multiple agencies across Cabell County and five neighboring counties to launch the “U Drive, U Text, U Pay” initiative. This campaign aims to reduce accidents caused by texting and other distractions behind the wheel.
Thanks to funding from the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, law enforcement officers will increase patrols and conduct targeted enforcement against drivers using cell phones.
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Traffic safety officials emphasize the importance of staying alert on the road. “A child could suddenly run into the street chasing a ball. If you’re looking at your phone instead of paying attention, that moment of distraction could lead to tragedy,” said Beau Evans, Huntington’s traffic safety director.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in the past five years, nearly 16,000 lives have been lost, and almost 2 million people have been injured in crashes caused by distracted driving.
With these alarming statistics, officials hope the campaign will encourage drivers to stay focused and keep their hands off their phones—because one text can wait, but a life cannot be replaced.