Officers will be on the lookout for distracted drivers and are sending a message to motorists: One Text or Call Can Wreck It All. In 2014, 3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. “Anything that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off the task of driving is a distracted driving hazard, however texting or using a cell phone while driving is particularly dangerous because it requires your attention, hands, and eyes,” said Traffic Unit Safety Officer Sgt. Joe Grage. “No text is worth losing your life, or having to live with the guilt of injuring or killing someone else.” The national distracted driving effort focuses on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness and education – the same activities that have curbed drunk driving and increased seat belt use. “Every driver in Lombard has a role in this effort,” said Grage. “However, we especially want to reach out to parents with teen drivers because we know that statistically, the under-20 age group had the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes.” Lombard’s goal with this campaign is simple – save lives by getting drivers to remember that “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All.” For more information about distracted driving, please visit www.distraction.gov, or you can contact Sgt. Joe Grage at (630)873-4667.

Pledge to be an attentive driver by committing to following the below tips:

• First and foremost, turn off your cell phone. Put it in the glove compartment, in your purse or in your trunk.There is no safe way to make a call while driving – not even hands-free.
• Send and read text messages and emails before you start driving.
•  If you’re going on a longer drive, schedule breaks to stop, park safely, and respond to messages.• Using voice features in your car’s infotainment system is also distracting. Take care of communications before you start driving.
• Know where you’re going before you put the car in “drive.” Put your destination into your GPS so you do not need to fiddle with it while the car is moving.
• Social media can wait. No update, tweet or video is worth a life.
• Park in a safe area if you must take a call, return a text or check email.
• Do not call or text friends or family if you know they are driving.