The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced on Apr. 1 a renewed effort to combat distracted driving, highlighting the dangers and consequences associated with using phones and other distractions while operating a vehicle.
Distracted driving remains a significant issue in Texas, as it was the second-most common factor in traffic crashes last year, contributing to more than 86,000 incidents. TxDOT is urging drivers to keep their focus on the road, especially during Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Dee Davila-Estelle shared her family's experience after losing two children in a crash caused by a distracted driver. "The hardest thing a mother has to do is look at her children in coffins," said Davila-Estelle. She and her husband are now working with TxDOT to remind others about the importance of attentive driving.
TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said, "When you’re behind the wheel, you should be completely focused on just one thing: driving. Road hazards and obstacles require quick thinking and reaction time, and just a few seconds can be the difference between life and death. I promise that text message or bite of food can wait.”
To address this issue, TxDOT is promoting its Talk. Text. Crash. campaign as part of its Drive like a Texan initiative through commercials, billboards, and interactive exhibits such as driving simulators that demonstrate the risks involved with distracted driving. The agency also reminds Texans that state law prohibits reading or sending texts while driving; violators may face fines up to $200.
According to the official website, TxDOT supports economic activity by maintaining an extensive transportation infrastructure across urban and rural areas of Texas—including highways, thousands of traffic signals, general aviation airports—and manages about 556.9 million vehicle-miles traveled daily under guidance from the Texas Transportation Commission which appoints an executive director.
TxDOT’s broader mission aims not only for mobility but also for fostering economic opportunities and enhancing quality of life statewide according to its official website. The agency encourages all Texans to embrace responsibility on roads by making thoughtful choices that help keep everyone safe.
