April is both Distracted Driving Awareness Month and Work Zone Safety Awareness Month — and while these campaigns target all drivers, they carry special urgency for first responders. Firefighters, EMS professionals, police officers, wrecker operators, and other emergency personnel are often the first on the scene of preventable crashes. The choices we make behind the wheel have a direct impact on their safety.
🚫 The Alarming Rise of Distracted Driving in Alabama
Distracted driving includes any behavior that diverts a driver’s attention from the road: texting, talking on the phone, scrolling through apps, or adjusting in-car technology. In Alabama, these habits are proving deadly:
- 60 fatalities were linked to distracted driving in 2023.
- That’s a 53.8% increase in just six years (2018–2023).
- As of June 15, 2023, Alabama’s hands-free law makes it illegal to hold a phone or device while driving. Violators face fines and points on their license.
📖 Source: Drive Safe Alabama – Hands-Free Law
This law is a vital step in reducing risk, but it only works if drivers choose to follow it.
🚨 First Responders Are on the Front Lines
When a crash happens, first responders arrive to help. Distracted driving makes their job even more dangerous. Every preventable incident means:
- Increased emergency calls, stretching resources thin
- Dangerous roadside conditions, where responders work just feet from traffic
- Higher risk of injury or death for emergency workers assisting others
🚧 Work Zones: High-Risk Areas for Crashes
Work zones are more than construction sites — they’re dynamic environments where road crews and emergency responders operate in close proximity to traffic. And the numbers show how risky these areas can be:
- 23% of Alabama’s work zone crashes result in injury or death
- Most are rear-end collisions caused by speeding or inattention
📖 Source: Drive Safe Alabama – Work Zone Safety
In work zones, seconds count — and split-second distractions can be fatal. First responders helping in these areas depend on driver caution to return home safely.
✅ How You Can Help Protect Lives
Everyone has a role to play in protecting first responders and making Alabama’s roads safer. Here’s how you can help:
- 📵 Put the phone away – Use “Do Not Disturb” mode or store your device out of reach
- 🚧 Slow down in work zones and follow all posted signs
- 🚓 Move over or reduce your speed when passing stopped emergency or service vehicles
- 👀 Stay focused – Your full attention should always be on the road ahead
📖 Learn more: Drive Safe Alabama – Move Over Law
April’s awareness campaigns are more than monthly observances — they’re life-saving initiatives. By eliminating distractions and staying alert in work zones, we protect ourselves and those who respond when disaster strikes.
Let’s commit to safer roads, not just in April, but every time we get behind the wheel.
👉 Stay alert. Stay safe. Support our first responders.