With ever-increasing demands on our personal and professional time in today’s busy society, learning to juggle multiple tasks at once is something we all face on a daily basis.
As a result, a new traffic safety epidemic has emerged on America’s roadways that demands immediate attention: distracted driving.
In 2015, 3,477 people were killed and 391,000 people were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. One of the most alarming and widespread forms of distracted driving is cell phone usage. Here on Scott Air Force Base, the 375th Security Forces Squadron has seen an alarming increase of personnel driving distracted.
Also, we all know there is a high volume of pedestrian traffic on Scott with numerous crosswalks around the Installation. With these two factors combined, it could easily spell disaster.
So what is distracted driving? Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. These types of distractions include:
· Texting;
· Using a cell phone or smartphone;
· Eating and drinking;
· Talking to passengers;
· Grooming or applying make-up;
· Reading, including maps;
· Using a navigation system;
· Watching a video; and
· Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player.
Unfortunately, due to distracted driving, we have had members of Team Scott, both on and off the installation, either struck by a vehicle or involved in a motor vehicle accident—all of which are preventable.
The key is education and ensuring our family, friends and co-workers are well informed on the dangers or driving distracted. Remind them all that a simple distraction while behind the wheel can lead to a disastrous ending, an ending that not only affects those directly involved in the incident, but also their family and friends.
Therefore, the 375th SFS is actively patrolling the streets of Scott AFB to combat distracting driving with proactive traffic and distracted driving enforcement. Please do your part and drive responsibly; your life and others count on it!
For more information on distracted driving, please contact 375th SFS NCOIC, Police Services, Tech. Sgt. Alexa Marro at 256-2324 or Alexa.Marro@us.af.mil