WASHINGTON, D. C. (Wednesday, April 3, 2019) ––To highlight the dangers and consequences of distracted driving, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) launched a High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) wave today in one of the busiest traffic corridors in the nation’s capital. It is an essential element of the “Don’t Drive Intoxicated - Don’t Drive Intexticated” campaign announced today by the Metropolitan Police Department, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and AAA Mid-Atlantic. The campaign focuses attention on the deadly habit of distracted driving and encourages area motorists to pledge to put down their phones while driving. The overarching goal is making District streets safer for everyone.

The word “intexicated” is, of course, a play on the word “intoxicated.” And as such, the “Don’t Drive Intoxicated—Don’t Drive Intexticated” campaign links the impact of drinking and driving with distracted driving. Both are comparably dangerous and deadly, research shows. Both -alcohol-impaired driving and texting while driving - kill and injure drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists. What is more, a person using a cellphone while driving is four times as likely to be involved in a crash as drivers who are not.

District residents are concerned about distracted driving, new polling conducted by AAA Mid-Atlantic shows. In fact, 64% of District residents surveyed said they are very concerned about safety on the road due to other drivers being distracted by their electronic devices.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The “Intexticated” message raises awareness about the traffic safety hazards of distracted driving in Washington, D.C. The “Don’t Drive Intoxicated - Don’t Drive Intexticated” campaign dovetails with Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Vision Zero Initiative aimed at improving pedestrian and bicycle safety and reaching zero fatalities and serious injuries for all travelers on the city’s transportation systems by the year 2024, Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Peter Newsham announced today.  

In referencing distracted driving, the Chief also said, “It seems every day, you can look in a car’s window and see a driver using their cell phone. People know texting and driving is dangerous and illegal, but they do it anyway. So, beginning today, you’ll see increased law enforcement efforts, as officers will be stopping and ticketing anyone who is caught using their hand held phone while driving.”

“Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the crash event,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Combatting distracted driving through greater enforcement and education is a Vision Zero imperative that will protect our most vulnerable travelers, explains the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).                

“Texters” take their eyes off the road for “an average of five seconds, which – at 55 mph – would be equivalent of driving while blindfolded for the length of a football field.” Every day, distracted driving kills an average of nine people and injures over 1,000, warns NHTSA. It is the third-leading driver-related cause of crash fatalities. It is surpassed only by speeding and driving under the influence. The AAA survey finds that a large majority of respondents in the District, 75%, believe that the dangers of using a Smartphone for texting, emailing, and social media can be as serious as drinking and driving.

“Whether it’s texting, calling, navigating or something else, using your cellphone can be dangerous while driving. In fact, texting and driving can have the same consequence as drinking and driving: deaths and injuries,” explained John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs. “The ‘Don’t Drive Intoxicated—Don’t Drive Intexticated’ campaign targets drivers who would never consider getting behind the wheel after drinking a beer or any other alcoholic beverage and, yet, will regularly use mobile devices while driving that dangerously take their eyes and minds off the road.”

Moreover, the new AAA poll of licensed drivers living in the District also finds.

• Seventy-two percent of respondents say that they notice more drivers distracted by electronic devices on the road now than two years ago.

• Almost seven out of ten (67%) of District residents say it is NEVER okay to email, text or use social media while driving.

• Nearly half (46%) of respondents residing in Washington, D.C.  say that they never look at their phone to read or send a text while driving.

Pledge now. The multi-faceted “Don’t Drive Intoxicated—Don’t Drive Intexticated” traffic safety campaign is crafted to empower people to change their behavior. For this reason, the MPD, DDOT and AAA Mid-Atlantic are encouraging the motoring public to take the pledge to prevent distracted driving. Drivers can go online at www.aaa.com/dontdrivedistracted to join us in our pledge to not drive intexticated. Pledge cards are also available at AAA retail centers and Car Care Centers throughout the Washington metro area, including at 1405 G Street NW in downtown Washington.

Distracted driving accounts for approximately 25% of all motor vehicle crash fatalities, and more than 58% of teen crashes in the United States. During April, AAA is launching dramatic new Public Service Announcements that remind drivers: “Don’t Drive Intoxicated, Don’t Drive Intexticated, a sobering message from AAA.”

Watch the PSAs here:

https://vimeo.com/283520390 (Mom version)

https://vimeo.com/261524390  (Dad version)

The AAA poll was conducted on March 14-15, 2019 by Public Policy Polling on behalf of AAA Club Alliance. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.9%. All 628 D.C. respondents were 18 years or older with a valid U.S. driver's license.

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 58 million members nationwide and nearly 79,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com