Plenty of us are guilty of hearing the alert from our phones and finding it difficult to resist the temptation to glance down, maybe even tap out a quick response. But during National Distracted Driving Month in April, law enforcement agencies are reminding us that it’s not just against the law, it could be deadly.

Distracted driving can be anything from use of a cell phone to trying to feed a toddler in the back seat. It is anything that keeps a driver’s attention away from the road. According to the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, in 2022 there were 1,860 distracted driving crashes in the state — resulting in 835 injuries and four deaths.

In Ohio, the law against drivers using or even holding a cell phone or other electronic device seems to be making a difference, but not much.

Cambridge Mobile Telematics compiled data that showed after a year of the law being in effect, there was an 8.6% decline in distracted driving in Ohio, which the company estimates resulted in 17 fewer fatalities than the previous year.

“The bottom line is distracted driving can be prevented,” said Jack McNeely, director of the GHSP. “Drivers can prioritize safe driving by keeping their hands on the wheel, their eyes on the road, and their focus on driving.”

That just seems like common sense, but the reminder should help drivers avoid being pulled over by the increased number of state troopers who will be targeting distracted driving violations in April.

The theme for this year’s awareness effort is Don’t drive distracted. Eyes forward.

It’s sound advice and could help keep you, those kids in the back seat and everyone else on the roads safer. It will set a better example, too.

Stay focused on what matters while you drive. Getting distracted truly isn’t worth it.