Driving? Put that cell phone down

The next time you go to pick up your cell phone while driving, remember the June 2015 accident that resulted in the three deaths caused when a driver hit a school bus or the accident in March of this year when 13 people died after the church bus in which they were riding was hit by a texting driver.
This is Distracted Driver Awareness Week and all levels of local law enforcement are putting an increased emphasis on looking out for drivers talking or texting on a cell phone.
Studies show that about 1 million crashes each year are caused by someone using a cellphone while driving.
In Illinois, if you are caught using your cellphone while driving, you are subject to $120 fine … for the first violation. Subsequent violations will likely be more costly.
But a fine is not the main reason not to talk or text while driving; it's the risk of causing an accident that can result in injury or death, of both the driver and of those in other vehicles.
You might think that taking your eyes off of the road for just a second isn't really that dangerous. But a lot can happen in just a second – your vehicle can drift off the road or into the other lane of traffic, or the vehicle in front of you could be making a quick, unexpected stop.
And even if you are watching while talking with your cellphone up to your ear, you can be paying more attention to your phone call than your driving.
This week is a reminder to not subject yourself to a hefty fine, or, worse yet, put yourself in a position to cause a serious wreck.
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