Aurora, Ill., April 24, 2017 –AAA, in partnership with the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) and nearly 300 local law enforcement throughout Illinois, is coordinating the first ever Illinois Distracted Driving Awareness Week, to be held April 24th – April 28th. Governor Rauner issued the official proclamation and both chambers of the Illinois legislature have passed resolutions in support of this effort. During this week, ILACP, the Illinois State Police, local law enforcement and AAA will work together to educate motorists about the laws and dangers of driving while distracted as it remains a significant problem.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s recent Traffic Safety Culture Index, 81 percent of drivers say texting while driving is a very serious threat, yet nearly half (40 percent) report having texted while driving in the last 30 days. Broken down by age group, drivers ages 19-24 were 1.6 times as likely as all drivers to report having read a text message or e-mail while driving in the last 30 days (66.1 percent vs. 40.2 percent). Drivers ages 19-24 were nearly twice as likely as all drivers to report having typed or sent a text message or e-mail while driving (59.3 percent vs. 31.4 percent).
“There is a significant ‘do as I say, not as I do’ attitude among drivers on the roadway today, noted Alicia Lyles, Field Vice President – Midwest, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Through this effort that will combine enforcement and education, two critical components to combatting distracted driving, we’re urging drivers to take personal responsibility on the roadway and keep their focus on driving. We’re proud to work with the ILACP and law enforcement across the state in these efforts.”
“Distracted driving is a significant problem on our roadways that can only be solved with education, enforcement and drivers committing to driving responsibly and obeying the laws,” noted Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police President James Kruger. “This partnership with AAA and law enforcement will help reinforce the key areas of education and enforcement and put a renewed focus on distracted driving this week and well into the future.”
About The Auto Club Group
The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America. ACG and its affiliates provide membership, travel, insurance and financial services offerings to approximately 9 million members across 11 states and two U.S. territories including Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; most of Illinois and Minnesota; and a portion of Indiana. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with nearly 55 million members in the United States and Canada and whose mission includes protecting and advancing freedom of mobility and improving traffic safety.
About Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation
Established by AAA – The Auto Club Group in 2010, Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation, Inc. (ACGTSF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and public charity dedicated to producing a significant and continuous reduction in traffic crashes, injuries and deaths in the communities targeted by its efforts. ACGTSF provides programs, education and outreach to increase public awareness about the importance of traffic safety and improve driving behavior. ACGTSF is funded by voluntary, tax-deductible contributions from organizations and individuals who support ACGTSF’s purpose.