Little Rock, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – The Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office on Oct. 17 launched the statewide distracted driving campaign: “Put the Phone Away or Pay.”
The campaign will run from Oct. 19-25 and remind drivers of the dangers and legal consequences of distracted driving, an ASP news release said.
In 2023, distracted driving crashes killed 3,275 people across the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of those killed, 611 were pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorists.
The news release said seven percent of drivers ages 15 to 20 who were involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted, with this age group having the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of the crash.
“Distracted driving, especially using a phone while driving, remains one of the deadliest risks on our roads,” said Col. Mike Hagar, Arkansas Public Safety Secretary and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative in the release. “The statewide ‘Put the Phone Away or Pay’ campaign focuses on educating drivers and enforcing Arkansas’ distracted driving laws. Fewer distracted drivers means safer roadways. Period.”
For more information on distracted driving, click here or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136. Click here to learn about Arkansas’ Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities.