DRIVING: This April, AAA wants to remind motorists: Don’t drive intoxicated. And don’t drive intexticated, either.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, as recognized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

We all know it’s wrong, and yet we’ve all done it. We bet you passed someone, on your way to work this morning, looking not at the road but down at their phone. Are you guilty of this driving double standard?

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2022 Traffic Safety Culture Index found 93% of motorists believed it was very or extremely dangerous to text or email while driving, yet nearly four out of 10 admitted to doing so within the previous month.

Distracted driving is a danger to everyone. NHTSA reports that more than 30,000 motorists died in distracted-driving crashes between 2012 and 2021. In 2021 alone, more than 360,000 people were injured in distracted driving crashes.

Don’t Drive Intoxicated. Don’t Drive Intexticated. is AAA East Central’s initiative to remind motorists that consequences of alcohol-impaired driving and distracted driving can be equally devastating. Not limited to cell phones, distractions include eating, changing music, adjusting navigation, talking to passengers or anything else that takes the driver’s attention.

Some tips:

Put aside devices, turn off notifications.

Set systems like GPS, seats, mirrors, climate and sound before hitting the road.

Groom before leaving.

Stay focused, scanning the road and using mirrors.

Secure items, pets and children.

Ask a passenger to serve as “designated texter,” answering calls and texts, programming navigation.

Be a good passenger.

Find more information on the AAA website, AAA.com/DontDriveDistracted.