Texas Begins Distracted Driving Awareness Campaign

In Texas, one in five crashes involve distracted driving which is among the reasons why The Texas Department of Transportation has launched "Heads Up, Texas," a campaign to discourage driver distractions, according to a KCBD report.

The initiative was launched in San Antonio because the city had the highest occurrence of distracted driving in the state last year — 19,113 accidents, including 33 fatalities, reports the San Antonio Express-News.

According to TxDOT officials, the campaign is no longer just a public safety suggestion but rather designed to remind motorists of the law, which prohibits texting while driving.

The Lone Star State's texting while driving ban may be helping the problem, even if minimally, reports KCBD.com.

Recent data shows that the number of collisions involving distracted driving in Texas dropped by 6% when compared to the 12-month periods before and after the statewide ban took effect in Sept. 2017, notes the report.

TxDOT originally introduced "Heads up, Texas" in 2018 to address the new law. The 2019 campaign kicked off on June 4. There is a 12-city, virtual reality experience tour planned to educate Texans across the state about the dangers of distracted driving.