Beginning June 15, The Texas Department of Transportation is launching their "Talk, Text, Crash" campaign across the state of Texas to urge drivers to stop texting while driving and minimize driving distractions.
TxDOT wrote in a press release Monday that in 2014, there were 100,917 distracted-driving crashes resulting in 483 fatalities and more than 3,000 serious injuries across the state.
“In Texas, texting, talking and other distractions cause nearly 1 in 5 traffic crashes,” said John Barton, TxDOT deputy executive director. “Through our ‘Talk, Text, Crash’ campaign we remind drivers that talking, texting, eating or even changing the radio station while driving can lead to serious injury or death. Driving requires your full attention. Anything less jeopardizes you, your loved ones and everyone else on the road.”
According to the Texas Transportation Institute, nearly 45 percent of Texas drivers admitted to using a mobile phone while driving, even though 83 percent of them agreed that talking on mobile phones while driving is dangerous.
The "Talk, Text, Crash" campaign aims to warn drivers from multitasking while driving, said TxDOT. They added if a driver feels they must send a text or answer a call, the driver should safely pull over before shifting their attention from the road.
TxDOT considers the following activities distracted driving:
- Texting
- Checking email
- Eating and drinking
- Grooming
- Reading
- Programming a navigation system
- Watching a video
- Adjusting a radio, CD player or other audio device
