[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E328]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 18, 2023

  Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join numerous 
organizations and individuals from around the country in observation of 
Distracted Driving Awareness Month. First introduced as a resolution by 
the Honorable Betsy Markey and passed by this chamber in March 2010, 
this commemoration brings critical attention to the devastating and 
persistent problem of distracted driving on our Nation's roadways.
  The latest data show that more than 3,000 people a year, an average 
of nearly 9 each day, are killed in distracted driving crashes. 
According to the National Safety Council--a leading safety nonprofit 
organization that is based in my district--only 62 percent of drivers 
reported to be ``very willing'' to obey state laws preventing cell 
phone use. Over the last 10 years, the prevalence of drivers using 
hand-held electronic devices while driving has increased 127 percent, 
climbing from 1.5 percent in 2012 to 3.4 percent in 2021. It is 
alarmingly clear that too many drivers fail to understand the dangers 
of distracted driving.
  Preliminary 2022 estimates from the National Safety Council indicate 
the deadly consequences of distracted driving are not fading. In 2022, 
over 46,000 people lost their lives in preventable traffic crashes. 
These estimates reveal that, compared to pre-pandemic numbers from 
2019, the rate of deaths per miles driven in 2022 increased nearly 22 
percent. These disturbing statistics are a reminder of how dangerous 
our roadways can be.
  I want to emphasize that these deaths are indeed preventable--and 
also, that these numbers are widely believed to be undercounted, as 
many states do not include the option on crash reports to document 
distracted driving. It is therefore imperative we continue to raise 
awareness in this chamber and in our communities.
  As we mark another Distracted Driving Awareness Month, I strongly 
encourage all motorists to firmly commit to driving safely and 
attentively, and to avoid using cell phones and in-vehicle technology 
that take attention away from the roads ahead.

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