April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2020 distracted driving crashes killed 3,142 people in the U.S., an average of nine deaths per day. That number was up 10% from the year before.

AAA is encouraging all motorists to eliminate distracted driving by following the tips below:

Place your mobile device out of sight to prevent temptation.

Know where you’re going. If using a navigation system, program the destination before driving.

If you must call or text while driving, pull off the road safely and stop first.

If riding with someone, seek their help to navigate, make a call or send a message.

Be a good passenger - speak out if the driver of your vehicle is distracted.

Don’t be a distraction - avoid calling or texting others when you know they are driving.

Activate the "Do Not Disturb" feature on your iPhone or Android device to prevent calls from coming in while you’re driving.

Just as drivers need to pay attention, so do pedestrians and bicyclists. Never call, text or play games while walking or cycling.

Source: AAA