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

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

The Skokie 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.

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.