April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month – a good time to take a look at how we're all doing in regards to an unsafe practice.

        It's been two years since police have been allowed to issue citations to drivers who feel the need to send or receive text messages while trying to navigate their vehicles along the roads.  The law simply states that it is illegal in Pennsylvania to use your cell phone (or other communication device) while driving to send or receive texts, emails or messages of any kind.  Doing so, and getting caught, could result in a $50 fine.

        A recent report issued by The Center for Rural Pennsylvania shows that Montgomery and Chester counties had the highest number of texting-while-driving violations in Southeastern Pennsylvania in 2013. The numbers obtained from AAA Mid-Atlantic and reported by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, show that there were 22.4 violations issued for every 100,000 licensed drivers in Chester and 20.6 for every 100,000 licensed drivers in Montgomery.  The suburban counties even topped Philadelphia, which had 13.9 violations per 100,000 licensed drivers.

        Our neighbors in Bucks (14.8 per 100,000), Berks (11.6 per 100,000) and Lehigh (13.1 per 100,000) counties show that the issue of texting-while-driving exists there as well. The highest number of violations issued in the Commonwealth was in Potter County where 61.6 citations were issued for every 100,000 drivers.

        Some people argue that the numbers are skewed because law enforcement officials are lax to pursue violators.  Others argue that the numbers show that law enforcement officials are doing their job.  One thing we can agree on is that texting-while-driving is unsafe.

        Sitting behind someone at a traffic light that just turned green, while the driver in front of you is oblivious to anything except the text message they're sending or receiving is minor compared to what can happen.

        Many people have seen drivers drifting from their lane, swerving off the road and blowing red lights and stop signs while holding devices along the top of the steering wheel with thumbs feverishly push keys and eyes on the screen message more so than on the road. Sadly, some have witnessed accidents caused by drivers more focused on the small screen instead of the road ahead. Ask many our region's first responders and they'll tell you about incidents of crashes caused by drivers who were reading or sending a text message on area roads you drive every day.

        So, the next time you year the chirp, beep, ring or other sound from your cell phone or other interactive wireless communication device, letting you know that you have an incoming text message, leave it alone until you have a safe place to pull over to read or respond to it. There isn't any text message that is more important than driving safe and avoiding an accident that could cause injury or even take a life.  The bottom line is that it's dangerous to text while you're driving.  Whether you're sending or receiving, it just isn't worth it.