GARNER , N.C. — April marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month across the country.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports more than 3,300 people in our country were killed due to distracted driving in 2022.
Officer J. Hammond with the Garner Police Department says it is unfortunately not uncommon to see distracted drivers on a regular basis.
“We see it constantly,” Hammond said. “You drive down 70, you look to your left, somebody who’s texting on their phone. You can drive right beside them and stare at them for 10 minutes and they never look up. They don’t even realize we’re there.”
While it’s not currently against the law in North Carolina to make a phone call while behind the wheel if the driver is over 18, it is illegal to send a text or email while driving.
Officials suggest pulling over if you must be on your cell phone or allow another passenger in the car to send a message or answer the call for you.
They also suggest drivers not putting on makeup or turning around to hand items to people who may be in the backseat while driving.