Motorists urged to 'just drive'
HARRISBURG - PennDOT recently launched "Just Drive PA," a new initiative aimed at improving safety on Pennsylvania roadways as part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
"Driving is a serious business that requires a driver's complete and full attention," said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. "Our new safety effort encourages motorists to 'Just Drive' and concentrate only on the task at hand."
According to PennDOT crash estimates for 2011, more than 14,200 crashes in Pennsylvania involved a distracted driver, with 58 people losing their lives in those crashes. A total of 1,286 people died in crashes on Pennsylvania roadways last year.
"Remember - when you're behind the wheel, your biggest and only responsibility is to focus on safe driving," Schoch added.
A website, www.JustDrivePA.com, features a "Distracted Driving" page highlighting Pennsylvania's new anti-texting law and the dangers of distracted driving. Also included is information on various highway safety topics, including impaired driving, motorcycles, young drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians and child-passenger safety.
Other website resources include programs available for schools, information on safety law enforcement, traffic-safety publications, public service announcements, interactive polls and a safe-driver quiz.
For more information on Just Drive PA, call (717) 783-8800.