Distracted Driving Awareness Month

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Distracted Driving Awareness Month

WHEREAS, distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of preventable crashes on our roadways, endangering drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and entire communities; and

WHEREAS, teens are among the most vulnerable groups on the road, as young drivers are more likely to be inexperienced, more susceptible to peer influence, and more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors such as texting while driving; and

WHEREAS, reports show that thousands of people are killed each year in crashes involving distracted drivers, and a significant portion of these tragedies involve teen drivers or teen passengers; and

WHEREAS, texting while driving is especially dangerous for teens, as it combines visual, manual, and cognitive distraction, taking a driver's eyes off the road for an average of five seconds-long enough to travel the length of a football field at highway speeds; and

WHEREAS, promoting safe driving habits among teens-including putting phones away, limiting passengers, avoiding multitasking, and staying focused-can significantly reduce crashes and save lives; and

WHEREAS, parents, schools, community organizations, and local leaders play a critical role in educating teens about the dangers of distracted driving and in fostering a culture of responsibility and awareness; and

WHEREAS, Distracted Driving Awareness Month provides an important opportunity to highlight the risks, encourage safe behaviors, and empower teens and adults to make responsible choices behind the wheel;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, do hereby recognize April 2026, as DISTRACTED DRIVER AWARENESS MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA and encourage all residents to join in efforts to reduce distracted driving, protect young drivers, and promote safer roads for everyone.