Cell phones have not only become an ubiquitous part of daily life, they have become almost an extension of the average person’s arm, rarely leaving their hand or their eyesight. This has unfortunately been extending to even time behind the wheel. The Newtown Bee is once again acknowledging the month to help with community awareness of this very dangerous issue.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at nhtsa.gov/april-distracted-driving-awareness-month, “Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on our roads. Cell phone use — specifically, texting, talking, and social media use — has become the most common distraction. Other risky actions include adjusting the radio or GPS, applying makeup, eating and drinking. By driving distracted, you’re robbing yourself of seconds that you may need to avoid a close call or deadly crash.”

This can be seen in Newtown all the time. Not only do you see many people looking at their phones while driving, it is borne out in the weekly Police Reports here in The Newtown Bee in the high incidence of rear-end collisions. As many as half of the weekly traffic incidents are a car being unable to stop in time for a stopped or slowing car ahead, and it’s difficult to believe that cell phones are not a major contributing factor, even if the drivers won’t cop to it.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and The Bee, and other civic organizations such as the Connecticut Department of Transportation and AAA Northeast, is asking drivers to stay off their phones.

During a portion of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, from April 9 through 13, drivers may see increased law enforcement on the roadways as part of the national paid media campaign Put the Phone Away or Pay. This campaign reminds drivers of the deadly dangers and the legal consequences — including fines — of texting behind the wheel.

According to AAA Northeast, in 2024, 3,208 people were killed, and 315,000 injured, due to distracted drivers. Eight percent of all fatal crashes involved a distracted driver. The NHTSA estimates that there were 32,717 fatalities due to distracted drivers from 2015 to 2024.

In Connecticut, between 2020 and 2024, there were more than 26,000 crashes involving a distracted driver, according to the Connecticut Crash Data Repository. Over 7,800 of the crashes resulted in injuries and nearly 50 were fatal.

NHTSA reports cell phone use — including texting, talking and social media use — is the most common form of distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, that’s the equivalent of driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

AAA research shows 93% of drivers surveyed in a recent study perceive texting, e-mailing, and reading on a cell phone as extremely or very dangerous. However, many drivers still acknowledged engaging in the following risky behaviors in the past 30 days: typing or sending a text or e-mail, 27%; reading a text or e-mail, 37%; and holding and talking on a cell phone, 36%.

“Any activity that takes your eyes off the road is a potential distraction and increases your risk of a crash,” said Lauren Fabrizi, spokesperson for AAA Northeast. “It’s imperative to give driving your full attention and ditch the distractions — because it could save a life.”

For teen drivers, AAA research has found talking or attending to other passengers in the vehicle is a top contributor to crashes.

AAA offers the following tips to keep drivers alert:

Avoid texting, e-mailing, or scrolling through apps while driving; put your cell phone in the glove box, back seat, or trunk of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination.

If you need to send a text immediately, pull over and park your car in a safe location.

Designate your passenger as your “designated texter” to respond to calls or messages.

If your driver is texting or otherwise distracted, call out their behavior. Remind them it’s unsafe and encourage them to focus on the road.