MANCHESTER (PD): Cell phones continue to become more complex, allowing us to use them for almost every imaginable task. Utilizing your cell phone while driving is a dangerous and illegal act that could kill you, a loved one, a friend, or a stranger. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between 2012 and 2019, nearly 26,004 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver. Manchester Township Police would like to encourage you to be an example to your family and friends by putting your phone away while driving. Throughout the month of April, Manchester Township Police will join law enforcement agencies nationwide in a high enforcement campaign to remind drivers about the dangers and consequences of texting and distracted driving. Remember: U Drive. U Text. U Pay.

OCSN Stock Accident Photo

Distracted Driving Key Facts and Statistics

Nationwide, the number of people killed in distraction-affected crashes decreased from 3,450 in 2016 to 3,166 in 2017. From 2012 through 2017, nearly 20,000 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver.

In New Jersey, driver inattention has been a major contributing cause in nearly 800,000 motor vehicle crashes from 2012 to 2016.

As of December 2017, an average of 150 billion text messages were sent in the US (includes PR, the Territories, and Guam) every month.

Eight percent of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.

Drivers in their 20s comprise 23 percent of drivers in all fatal crashes, but are 27percent of the distracted drivers and 37 percent of the distracted drivers who were using cell phones in fatal crashes.

More than half of all adult cellphone owners have been on the giving or receiving end of a distracted walking encounter.

At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 416,000 drivers are using handheld cell phones.

Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by three times.

Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.

Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use.

A quarter of teens respond to a text message once or more every time they drive. 20 percent of teens and 10 percent of parents admit that they have extended multi-message text conversations while driving.