Illinois and Missouri are observing Distracted Driving Month

As many regular readers of our Motor Vehicle Accidents Law Blog know, April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. And state troopers in central and southern Illinois are joining law enforcement agencies in Missouri and across the nation in reminding drivers that it is time to pay attention to the roads and traffic rather than their phones or in-dash devices.

The Illinois State Police says it will have more troopers available to write citations for those drivers looking at their phones while behind the wheel. The hope is that a ticket will get drivers to change their behavior and make them less likely to cause a motor vehicle crash with injuries and possibly fatalities.

A recent news article on Distracted Driving Month stated that it takes on average about 4.5 seconds to send a text. In that short time, a vehicle going 65 miles per hour will travel about 200 feet.

An Illinois trooper told a Collinsville TV reporter that he wants drivers to know what the possible repercussions can be of a text or social media post made while driving. He noted the recent tragic death of a fellow trooper who was killed during a traffic stop in northern Illinois. Distracted driving might have been the cause of that tragedy.

If you or a family member has been harmed in an auto crash caused by a distracted driver, you can pursue justice and compensation both with the help of an attorney experienced in personal injury litigation. In many situations, the injured can receive full compensation for all medical bills, lost wages, time away from work and more.