Page 90 - April 2017 Life In Naplles Magazine

CCSO

CAMPAIGN AIMS TO CURB

Distracted Driving

DON’T TEXT.

DON’T CALL.
DON’T E-MAIL.

DON’T EAT.
DON’T GROOM.

DON’T READ.
JUST DRIVE. THAT’S IT.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has
launched a new traffic crash prevention,
awareness and education campaign called, “Just
Drive – that’s it”. The campaign encourages
motorists to avoid distractions while driving,
especially cell phone use, in order to pay full Photo Credit(s) to Cpl. Efrain Hernandez/CCSO
attention to the road.
Texting, talking, using a map - basically
anything other than driving – is dangerous because The campaign also features window clings with the message “Just Drive –
it takes your attention away from the road. that’s it,” which deputies are distributing, along with educational fliers, during
In 2016, 10 percent of all accidents in Collier traffic stops and special events. The clings are available at CCSO substations for
County were caused by some form of distracted motorists to display in the back windows of their vehicle. CCSO Youth Relations
driving. And last year more than 100 people Bureau deputies are distributing the clings to Teen Driver Challenge students
were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving during the portion of the session that addresses the dangers of aggressive driving.
someone using a cellphone or other electronic Lighted message boards along local roads carry the “Just Drive” message.
communication device in Collier County. Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away
“No text message or e-mail is worth the risk from the primary task of driving, according to the National Highway Traffic
of endangering your life or the lives of others on Safety Administration (NHTSA). These types of distractions include texting,
the road,” said Sheriff Kevin Rambosk. “By just using a cell phone or smartphone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers,
driving, you are keeping yourself and others on grooming, reading, using a navigation system, watching a video, and adjusting in-
the road at a lower risk for crashes.” car audio.
The agency is using social media – Facebook, Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When
Twitter and Instagram - to promote the campaign traveling at 55 mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field
and to provide important safety information and blindfolded, according to the NHTSA.
tips for motorists. You can follow the campaign In 2015 there were a total of 960 distracted driving crashes in Collier County.
using the hashtag #ccsojustdrive. Of that number, 174 crashes involved injuries and two involved fatalities.

90 Life in Naples | April 2017