April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Evanston Police Will Be On The Lookout

EVANSTON, IL — Throughout April, Evanston police will be on the lookout for drivers with their phones in their hands.

The Evanston Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies throughout the state in recognizing Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. Drivers can expect increased patrols looking for texting, social media use, video viewing and other distracted driving violations.

“Distracted driving puts everyone at risk, and even a quick glance at a phone can have devastating consequences,” said Sergeant Amanda Wright. “During April, officers will be looking for distracted driving violations and reminding motorists to put the phone away and focus on the road.”

Authorities said if you need to send a message, check directions or return a call, it's best to pull over and park to ensure everyone is safe.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claimed 3,275 lives in 2023.

"Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed," NHTSA said.

In Illinois, manually using an electronic communication device while driving is illegal.

This traffic safety enforcement campaign is funded with federal traffic safety funds administered by IDOT.