A woman talking on the phone and painting her nails while driving.

Stay Focused: April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

March 31, 2025 Written by Shane Dorrill 2 min read
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April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a good time to reflect on the importance of staying focused while driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving led to more than 3,500 deaths and more than 360,000 injuries in 2023.

Common Distractions

Distracted driving involves any activity that diverts your attention from driving. Common distractions can be categorized into three main types:

  • Visual Distractions: Anything that takes your eyes off the road.
    • Looking at your phone to read or send a text message
    • Checking your GPS or looking to see what song is next on your Spotify play list.
    • Looking at something outside the vehicle like an accident
  • Manual Distractions: Anything that takes your hands off the wheel.
    • Eating or drinking
    • Adjusting the radio or climate controls
    • Reaching for an object while you’re driving
  • Cognitive Distractions: Anything that takes your mind off driving.
    • Engaging in a conversation with a passenger
    • Daydreaming or being lost in thought
    • Driving while being tired

Tips to Combat Distracted Driving

  1. Put Your Phone Away: Keep your phone out of reach while driving. Consider using apps that block incoming calls and texts while you’re on the road.
  2. Set Your GPS Before You Start Driving: Program your Google maps or Waze before you leave, so you’re not trying to input information while driving.
  3. Avoid Multitasking: Focus solely on driving. Eating, drinking or applying makeup can wait until you’re safely parked.
  4. Educate Passengers: Make sure your passengers understand the importance of minimizing distractions and helping you stay focused.

Alabama’s Hands-Free Device Law

In Alabama, the hands-free device law, which went into effect in 2021, prohibits drivers from holding a phone or other electronic device while driving. This law aims to reduce the number of accidents caused by distracted driving. Under this law, drivers can use their phones only in hands-free mode, which includes voice commands and Bluetooth technology. Violating this law can result in fines and points on your driving record.

Safety Reminder: UA Alert System Test

Weather permitting, the University will test its emergency notification systems, including UA Alerts, the public address system and digital signage Wednesday, April 2, at 11:55 a.m.