By Ken Stickney

ken.stickney@panews.com

Distracted driving accounted for more than 400 deaths on Texas roads last year, and more than 100,000 accidents.

That’s why the Texas Department of Transportation has launched its “Heads Up, Texas” campaign to remind drivers during April, which is National Distracted Driving Month, that it pays to pay attention on the road.

TxDOT said Friday that the new campaign continues the department’s efforts to deal with distracted driving, a scourge on our highways.

Sarah Dupre, TxDOT spokesman for the eight-county Beaumont District, said last year there were 1,351 accidents attributed to distracted drivers in this district. They accounted for nine deaths and 47 serious injuries in the district, which includes Chambers, Jasper, Jefferson, Hardin, Liberty, Orange and Tyler counties.

“We urge drivers to drive more safely,” she said.

Nonetheless, TxDOT says, data does not indicate driving is getting safer. One in five wrecks were attributed to distracted driving in this state, an estimated 100,687 crashes last year.

A new statewide law — it went into effect Sept. 1 — makes it illegal for drivers to read, write or send a text and drive in Texas. Law enforcement officers are looking for drivers with their heads down distracted by their phones, TxDOT said in an issued statement, leading TxDOT to launch its “Heads up, Texas” campaign.

“There is more to distracted driving accidents than people texting and driving or that have been drinking or are under the influence of drugs,” said Dr. Ali Osman of Neighbors Emergency Center Golden Triangle. “Distracted driving also involves drivers that are talking, not paying attention, the radio is too loud, they are daydreaming instead of paying attention to the road.”

Osman said, “All those factors can cause accidents that can hurt or kill someone. It’s important for parents to talk about all those dangerous factors with their young drivers. “Plus parents need to be a good example for driving safely at all times. We don’t want to see anyone in the emergency room for something they could have prevented.”

TxDOT offers these tips for safe driving:

• Give driving 100 percent of your attention, 100 percent of the time.
• It’s safer to pull into a parking lot before diverting your attention to your phone or other activity.
• Put your phone away — or turn it off — before getting behind the wheel.
• Tell friends, family, and coworkers you won’t respond to calls or texts when driving.
• Use a smartphone app that sends auto-reply texts when you’re behind the wheel.
• Join us and take the It Can Wait pledge — that’s the student program — as a commitment to keep your heads up.