April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, providing a good reminder for everyone of the dangers of not giving full attention to the road.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 3,138 people died in distracted driving crashes in the United States in 2020. But distracted driving isn’t just texting. It can be talking on the phone, to another passenger or a pet, eating or drinking, changing a music station or messing with the navigation — anything that takes the driver’s attention away from the road.

Too often we believe we are special and nothing will happen if we reach down to check that text or turn around to hand a bag of fast food to the child in the backseat. Just this once. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2020 Traffic Safety Culture Index found 96 percent of motorists believed it was very or extremely dangerous to text or e-mail while driving, but nearly four out of 10 drivers admitted to doing so in the last 30 days.

“Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing traffic safety threats,” said Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs for AAA East Central, which serves the Tri-State Area. “Any distraction, whether it’s texting or talking to a passenger, takes a motorist’s attention away from the road and can have dangerous consequences.”

To avoid distractions while driving, AAA East Central says, motorists should:

• Put aside electronic distractions. Put smartphones away, turn them to airplane mode or activate “do-not-disturb” call/text blocking features.

• Prepare for the drive. Set vehicle systems like GPS, seats, mirrors, climate controls and sound systems before hitting the road.

• Groom before leaving the house. Don’t use time behind the wheel to fix hair or makeup — this can be a deadly decision.

• Stay focused. Be sure to actively scan the road, use mirrors and watch out for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Secure items. Properly secure items, children and pets that can move around the vehicle and become a distraction.

• Be mindful of passengers. If there are passengers in the vehicle, enlist their help as a “designated texter.” Ask them to answer calls, respond to texts and program the navigation.

• Be a good passenger. Offer to assist the driver, and don’t distract them.

In short, distracted driving is bad behavior. And even though we all know that, this month is a good reminder, to avoid not just drinking and driving, but driving distracted as well. Keep your eyes on the road. Turn your phone off if need be. Make sure nothing is going to keep your attention from where it is needed.

You are taking more than your own life into your hands if you don’t.