The Rockland County Department of Health is reminding residents that April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, urging motorists to stay alert behind the wheel as distracted driving continues to be a leading cause of motor vehicle crashes across New York State.

According to the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, distracted driving includes any activity that diverts attention from the road, such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, drinking, interacting with passengers, or adjusting navigation and entertainment systems.

“Any of these distractions can endanger you, your passengers, and others on the road,” said Dr. Albert Del Principio, Ed.D., Rockland County STOP-DWI & Traffic Safety Coordinator.

Officials say the most common distraction remains cell phone use — including texting, calling, and checking social media. From April 9 through April 13, state and local law enforcement agencies will step up enforcement targeting distracted driving violations as part of a statewide initiative.

Safety experts emphasize the dangers of even brief distractions. At 55 miles per hour, taking your eyes off the road for just five seconds — the time it takes to read or send a text — is equivalent to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is promoting its “Put the Phone Away or Pay” campaign, offering several key safety tips for drivers:

• Pull over to a safe location before reading or sending texts
• Ask passengers to handle phone use when possible
• Enable “Do Not Disturb” mode or silence notifications while driving
• Keep phones out of reach to avoid temptation
• Set a strong example, especially for young drivers, by staying focused behind the wheel

Officials also noted that stricter penalties for certain distracted driving violations took effect in New York State earlier this year, reinforcing the importance of compliance and road safety.

Drivers are urged to remain vigilant and distraction-free to help prevent crashes and save lives throughout the month and beyond.