April is distracted driving awareness month. While Florida Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting bans on distracted driving, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of distracted driving related accidents.

Distracted driving is many things, from texting or talking on a cell phone, to grooming in the mirror or fiddling with a car radio. Anything that takes a driver’s full attention away from the road is a dangerous distraction that can lead to accidents. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) reports that in 2009 5,474 people were killed, and another 448,000 were injured in auto accidents reported to have involved distracted driving. (source)

Of all the dangerous activities related to distracted driving, cell phone usage, phone calls and texting were atrributed to the highest percentage of fatalities.

The easiest way to protect yourself from distracted driving accidents is to avoid all distractions while you drive.

Many vehicles today are equiped with video players, complicated stereo systems, and navigation systems that can distract a driver from the road. Leave the distractions to your passengers and ensure that everyone arrives safetly.