Texting while driving will soon carry even more serious consequences for Illinois residents. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias recently introduced the new “One Road. One Focus” public safety initiative, which aims to reduce instances of distracted driving throughout the state.
The “One Road, One Focus” campaign comprises several key components: student drivers will be required to watch a new educational video, awareness-raising billboard advertisements will be installed, and there will be increased patrols for distracted driving at all levels of law enforcement.
The purpose of these initiatives is to promote a cultural shift in our driving behavior, making Illinois roads safer and ultimately saving lives.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in a statement:
Despite understanding the dangers, people still give in to the temptation to pick up their phone while behind the wheel. This ‘intexticated driving’ is the drunk driving of our time and is 100 percent preventable.
The “One Road, One Focus” program is supported by $77,000 in grant funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These funds will help local police work alongside the Illinois Secretary of State Police to enforce distracted driving laws in high-volume crash areas.
Law enforcement officers across the state will also be encouraged to issue more tickets in hopes of deterring drivers who may be tempted to become distracted.