Sheriff warns of distracted driving causes

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and Sheriff Mark Lillywhite has issued a media release with information about the problem.

Lillywhite said according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,100 people were fatally injured in crashes due to distracted driving in 2020.

Lillywhite described distracted driving as anything that causes a motorist take their hands off the wheel. Examples include eating, smoking or reaching for an object.

Common visual distractions include looking at a GPS, cell phone, a motorist checking their hair in the rearview mirror or looking at kids in the backseat.

Cognitive distractions are defined as anything that causes a driver to take their mind off the task of driving. Examples include having conversation with a passenger or daydreaming.