Distracted Driving
The Law
- It is illegal to manually use your phone while driving. This includes texting, emailing, changing music, web browsing, and more.
- First offense: Up to a $100 fine.
- Penalties increase if someone is seriously injured or you've been convicted of this before.
- Learn more about what's prohibited and the few exceptions here
🛑 Distracted Driving Prevention: Drive Focused
Distracted driving is anything that takes your focus away from the task of driving. It is a leading contributor to crashes and fatalities in Utah. When you drive distracted, you aren't just putting yourself at risk; you're putting everyone else on the road at risk.
A distraction is more than just using a phone; it's anything that requires you to divert your attention, your hands, or your eyes from the road. All distractions fall into one of three critical categories:
Distraction Category
Action
Example
👀 Visual
Taking your eyes off the road.
🖐️ Manual
Taking your hands off the steering wheel.
🧐 Cognitive
Taking your mind off the task of driving.
What causes distracted driving on Utah roads?
Utah traffic safety data highlights the most common distractions that lead to crashes.
1. 📱 Phone Distractions
This is the most recognized and frequent distraction. It includes talking, texting, scrolling, or navigating. Remember: Hands-free is not risk-free. Even conversations using a hands-free device still create a cognitive distraction that slows your reaction time.
2. 👥 People Distractions
This involves interactions with passengers, especially children and pets.
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Set expectations before driving, especially with young passengers.
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If you need to intervene with a child or pet, pull over safely first.
3. 🍔 Personal Activities
Any activity that requires manual or visual attention, such as eating, drinking, grooming, adjusting clothes, or reaching for items in the back seat.
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Get everything organized and ready before you put the car in drive.
4. 📻 Other Vehicle Controls
This includes adjusting the radio, climate control, or navigation system. While these are necessary, they should be done quickly or by a passenger.
-
Set your GPS destination and music playlist before you leave your driveway.
The Goal: The law is intended to create safer roads.
The best policy is to put the phone away entirely when you are behind the wheel.
✅ Take Action: How can YOU drive focused?
Follow these steps to eliminate distractions:
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Silent Mode & Out of Sight: Put your phone on silent and place it in the glove compartment, the back seat, or your pocket, where you cannot see or reach it.
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Appoint a Co-Pilot: If you are traveling with passengers, ask them to handle all calls, texts, navigation, and entertainment adjustments.
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Prep Your Ride: Before leaving, adjust your seat, mirrors, climate controls, music, and GPS. Finish eating and drinking before you merge into traffic.
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Pull Over: If you receive an urgent call, must send a text, or need to manage a situation in the car, pull over to a safe location first. Stay in the car, and stay buckled.
Additional Resources
Government Organizations
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- Distracted Driving Section: This is the primary federal agency for highway safety, offering extensive information, data, and campaigns on distracted driving. You'll find statistics, research, campaign materials, and countermeasure information.
- Traffic Safety Marketing (TSM) - Distracted Driving: NHTSA's resource for communication materials, campaigns, and educational tools for states, partners, and highway safety professionals.
- CrashStats (NHTSA): Provides detailed statistics and research notes on distracted driving fatalities and injuries.
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813703
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Transportation Safety - Distracted Driving: The CDC offers information on the public health aspects of distracted driving, including prevention strategies and fact sheets.
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Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)
- Distracted Driving: GHSA represents state and territorial highway safety offices and provides information on state laws, initiatives, and data related to distracted driving.
Non-Profit Organizations
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National Safety Council (NSC)
- The NSC is a leading non-profit advocate for safety, including road safety. They offer resources, research, and advocacy efforts focused on eliminating preventable deaths, including those from distracted driving.
- The NSC is a leading non-profit advocate for safety, including road safety. They offer resources, research, and advocacy efforts focused on eliminating preventable deaths, including those from distracted driving.
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AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
- This organization conducts research to improve highway safety. They have numerous studies and resources related to driver behavior, including distracted driving.
- This organization conducts research to improve highway safety. They have numerous studies and resources related to driver behavior, including distracted driving.
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End Distracted Driving (EndDD.org)
- Founded by the parents of a distracted driving victim, EndDD.org provides presentations, educational materials, and advocacy to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.
- Founded by the parents of a distracted driving victim, EndDD.org provides presentations, educational materials, and advocacy to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.
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National Distracted Driving Coalition (NDDC)
- A collaborative effort of various organizations aimed at accelerating progress in reducing distracted driving through research, tools, and prevention initiatives.
- A collaborative effort of various organizations aimed at accelerating progress in reducing distracted driving through research, tools, and prevention initiatives.
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The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF)
- A non-profit dedicated to reducing crashes, deaths, and injuries by promoting safe driving behavior through educational programs and public service campaigns, including those on distracted driving.
- A non-profit dedicated to reducing crashes, deaths, and injuries by promoting safe driving behavior through educational programs and public service campaigns, including those on distracted driving.
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Impact Teen Drivers
- This non-profit focuses specifically on preventing the number one killer of teens: car crashes, with a strong emphasis on addressing distracted driving among young drivers.
- This non-profit focuses specifically on preventing the number one killer of teens: car crashes, with a strong emphasis on addressing distracted driving among young drivers.
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For more information
Utah's Distracted Driving Program
Kevin Larsen
385-787-4322
[email protected]
