Distracted driving includes more than just cellphone use

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month in the U.S. and Texas is trying to raise awareness among teens about the dangers of distracted driving. While many campaigns seem to focus on the dangers of texting while driving, there are still many other distracted behaviors that contribute to car accidents in Texas.

Three-quarters of all injuries and fatalities caused by distracted driving car accidents are not related to cellphone use, according to the Casey Feldman Foundation. Instead, many distracted driving accidents are caused by drivers losing their attention on the road and focusing on something else.

What are other common causes of distracted driving? Research shows that many accidents are caused by drivers changing the radio, using their GPS, eating or turning around to check on children in the back seat. These are all very risky behaviors while behind the wheel and many contribute to car accidents every year.

Because there are so many different causes of distracted driving, safety groups in Texas have focused on teaching teenagers safe driving behaviors from the beginning. Teens need to be taught safe driving techniques and behaviors and unfortunately, many do not learn safe driving behaviors from their parents because adults are just as likely to drive distracted as any other driver.

That is why safety organizations are focusing on teens and educating them about different distractions while driving. In addition to the serious dangers of texting while driving, many other behaviors cause accidents and Texas is hoping to increase awareness to all different types of distracted driving during April.

Source: The Vindicator, "Texas 'Distracted' Driving Awareness Month - More than just texting More than 3,000 distracted driving deaths in U.S. yearly," Jon Michaelson, April 1, 2013