Police Remind Motorists to Drive Safely During Distracted Driving Month

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the Hawai‘i Police Department (HPD) is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to remind drivers to take a proactive role in road safety by following and spreading this message: Eyes Forward. Don’t Drive Distracted.

“Cell phone use, eating, or any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from safe driving is distracted driving,” said Torey Keltner, HPD’s Traffic Services Section program manager. “Distracted driving endangers everyone on the road including other drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists,” he said.

According to NHTSA, 16,482 people died and about 1.6 million people were injured in distraction-affected crashes from 2020 to 2024.

In 2024 alone, there were 3,208 people killed in traffic crashes involving at least one distracted driver, accounting for 8 percent of all traffic fatalities that year. An estimated additional 315,167 people were injured in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers in 2024.

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.

Cell phone use while driving is not only dangerous, it’s against the law. In Hawai‘i it is illegal to use handheld mobile electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle. The law also applies when a driver is stopped at a red light or stop sign. In addition, drivers under the age of 18 may not use any mobile electronic device, including hands-free systems, while driving a motor vehicle. Violations are subject to fines starting at $347, with higher penalties in school zones or construction areas.

During April and throughout the year, keep safety in mind when driving and keep your eyes on the road and focused on driving. Remember: Eyes Forward. Don’t Drive Distracted.