Pennsylvania SR 288: A Resolution designating the month of April 2026 as "Distracted Driving Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1638
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 288
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY BROWN, STREET, SAVAL, HAYWOOD AND COSTA,
APRIL 23, 2026
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, APRIL 23, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of April 2026 as "Distracted Driving
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, "Distracted driving is any activity that could
divert a person's attention away from the primary task of
driving"; and
WHEREAS, Anything can be a potential distraction but common
examples of distracted driving include talking or texting on the
phone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers in the
vehicle, grooming or applying makeup and using the vehicle's
entertainment or navigation system; and
WHEREAS, Texting is considered the greatest distraction as
sending or reading a text takes a driver's eyes off the road for
five seconds; and
WHEREAS, At an average speed of 55 miles per hour, a driver
can travel the length of an entire football field in five
seconds; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Transportation maintains and
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publishes crash data, including distracted driving crashes, and
in 2021, there were 12,703 crashes involving a distracted
driver; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, from 2017 to 2021, there were 274
fatalities in crashes involving a distracted driver, or an
average of 58 fatalities per year, a statistic that has remained
relatively stagnant in this period; and
WHEREAS, While these statistics are guides, it has been
documented that many drivers will not admit to being distracted
while driving, causing these statistics to be lower than in
reality; and
WHEREAS, Distracted driving contributed to 10.7% of all
crashes in Pennsylvania in 2021; and
WHEREAS, Driver distraction is a completely preventable
problem and yet it accounts for dozens of deaths in this
Commonwealth every year; and
WHEREAS, Distracted driving continues to be a leading cause
of crashes on Pennsylvania roadways; and
WHEREAS, National data compiled by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that 3,275 people
lost their lives in 2023 as a result of distracted driving,
making distracted driving one of the leading causes of
preventable roadway deaths in America; and
WHEREAS, According to the Department of Transportation, young
drivers are over-represented in typical distracted driving
associated type crashes such as rear-end crashes, head-on
collisions and hitting fixed objects; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to educate all current and future
drivers on the importance of safe driving habits and the dangers
of distracted driving, the month of April has been designated as
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"Distracted Driving Awareness Month" by NHTSA; and
WHEREAS, "Distracted Driving Awareness Month" is recognized
in this Commonwealth by the Governor's Office, Department of
Transportation, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Turnpike
Commission and Insurance Department, all of which have shared
resources and have encouraged safe driving to save lives;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of April 2026
as "Distracted Driving Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage Pennsylvanians to have
safe and responsible behavior and safe driving habits and to
remember the dangers posed by distracted driving, whether you
are a driver or a passenger.
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