Each day, 10 people are killed in distracted driving crashes — contributing to the 37,000 people killed in crashes on U.S. roadways during 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

To help bring attention to the dangers associated with driving distracted, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and police departments throughout Kane County will again participate in Illinois Distracted Driving Awareness Week and conduct an enforcement campaign of Illinois’ distracted driving laws.

“No distraction — whether texting or talking on the phone — is ever worth the loss of life on the roadway,” said Kane County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Pat Gengler. “These senseless deaths can easily be prevented if drivers simply choose to focus on the core task of driving when behind the wheel. We aim to do our part to help keep Kane County roads safer.”

Officers Out In Force

Police departments throughout Kane County will be participating in Distracted Driving Awareness Week. In 2017, on Geneva alone, police cited 65 people and issued 199 warnings for unlawful use of their phone or electronic device while driving. A ticket can cost you $120.

Nearly 300 state and local law enforcement agencies will participate in Illinois’ second annual Distracted Driving Awareness Week from April 23 to 27, a coordinated effort between the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, AAA, The Illinois State Police, The Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois High School High School and College Driver Education Association.

Its purpose is to educate motorists about the dangers of driving while distracted and enforcing the laws on Illinois’ roadways.

Last year’s DDAW efforts resulted in more than 18,000 warnings and citations for distracted driving offenses.

In addition to traffic enforcement, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office will participate in education activities in coordination with the IHSCDEA by promoting distracted driving messages through department’s social media channels, senior service and senior safety programs and safe driving through ROTJC programs.

Contrary to what some drivers may think, hands-free, handheld and in-vehicle technologies are not distraction-free, even if a driver’s eyes are on the road and hands are on the wheel.

The latest AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research found that:

• Drivers who text when behind the wheel more than double their odds of being involved in a crash.
• Drivers who use in-vehicle technologies, like voice-based and touch screen features, can be distracted for more than 40 seconds when completing tasks like programming navigation or sending a text message.
• Removing eyes from the road for just two seconds doubles the risk for a crash.

Violating Illinois’s distracted driving laws can be costly, so “know before you go.”

In Illinois, there’s a $120 fine for any of the following violations:

• Texting and driving.
• Using a hand-held phone while driving.
• Teen drivers using a cell phone while driving.

For more information on Illinois Distracted Driving Awareness Week visit www.iddaw.org.