April is National Alcohol Awareness Month and Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Impaired and distracted driving is contributing to an increase in fatal and serious injury crashes in Lane County. In the span of five years (2018 - 2022), 220 people were killed or seriously injured in traffic crashes on rural Lane County roads. The most common type of crash was roadway departure, which likely involves a distracted driver. The top contributing factor in all serious crashes was alcohol impairment.

To help keep our roads and communities safe, Lane County reminds everyone that April is National Alcohol Awareness Month and Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

"Cell phone use and any activity that takes the driver's attention away from safe driving are distracted driving behaviors," said Becky Taylor, Lane County senior transportation planner. "Distracted driving endangers everyone on the road including other drivers and passengers, and people walking or biking."

"Each year, more than 2,500 people in Oregon die from excessive drinking, raising questions about how alcohol became so embedded in everyday life and what steps we can take to protect our health," said Luis Pimentel-Mendia, Lane County alcohol and drug prevention coordinator. "With one in five Oregon adults drinking excessively, this month offers an opportunity for people in Lane County to rethink their relationship with alcohol and consider ways to support those who want to drink less."

Lane County recognizes these public health issues and prioritizes preventing fatal and serious injury crashes. With spring upon us, there are a number of occasions such as weddings, concerts, holiday gatherings, and sporting events that may make it easier to binge drink this season.

Rethink the Drink. Plan ahead when attending events where alcohol may be present. There are many ways people can still have fun while keeping our roads safe:

• If you intend to drink at an event, have a designated driver lined up or plan on taking a taxi or rideshare service.
• Set a limit and count your drinks.
• Swap every other drink with water or another alcohol-free beverage.
• Eat food while drinking.
• Connect with a friend or loved one for support and accountability.
• Avoid certain people or places that may trigger you to drink more than planned.

Eyes Forward. Safe driving requires focused attention. Adopting these phone-free driving habits is key to creating a safe driving environment for everyone on the road:

• Pull over and park in a safe location before using the phone to send or read a text message.
• Ask a passenger to be the "designated texter" and allow them to manage calls and messages during the drive.
• Avoid social media scrolling and any form of messaging while behind the wheel.
• Use "Do Not Disturb" mode to silence notifications.
• Drivers can put their phone in the trunk, glove box or back seat of the vehicle to break the habit of driving distracted.

More resources are available at www.rethinkthedrink.com.

For more information on distracted driving, visit NHTSA.gov/DistractedDriving.

For more information about the Lane County Transportation Safety Action Plan, visit LaneCountyOR.gov/TowardZeroDeaths