By: Najla Alexander
Somerset County officials invite the community to join law enforcement in spreading the word to family, friends, and co-workers regarding Do Not Disturb While Driving Day.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald stated that Thursday, October 16th, is National Do Not Disturb While Driving Day (DNDWD). The purpose is to draw attention to a lifesaving feature that is integrated into every smartphone.
Do Not Disturb While Driving cellular phone settings block calls, texts, and other notifications while you are driving, allowing your attention to remain where it is required to be, on the road.
It is the goal of the National Distracted Driving Coalition (NDDC) to encourage all drivers to turn on their DNDWD feature and to teach others to do the same. As a driver, show that you care about the lives of friends, family, and strangers.
Support the NDDC, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Safety Council, the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety, and the Somerset/Hunterdon County Traffic Safety Alliance in their efforts to educate road users and make everyone’s drives and commutes safer.
Statistics through 2024 show that Distracted Driving continues to be a leading cause of motor vehicle crashes, with over 3,000 deaths in the US alone. While distraction-causing activities can take many forms, it is those activities that impair drivers visually, manually, and cognitively.
Activities drivers should avoid and refrain from include, but are not limited to: using a handheld/hand-free cell phone to text, call, or email, eating, drinking, and grooming. It can be anything that causes the hands to be off the wheel, the eyes off the road, and/or the mind off the task of driving that is hazardous and increases the risk of serious crashes.
Commit!
Turn on your DNDWD feature, urge friends, family, and co-workers to do the same. Try to make this a habit every day. Let’s all do our part to make the roads safer and help everyone arrive at their destination safe and alive.
If you have questions about how to turn on your DNDWD feature below are two websites for assistance:
Android Phones
https://support.google.com/android/answer/9069335?hl=en
Apple Phones
https://www.macobserver.com/tips/how-to/use-do-not-disturb-on-iphone/
Post on your social media about DNDWD Day and use hashtags #JustDrive, ButNotWhileDriving and #DNDWD25.