The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in partnership with the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement agencies across the state, is reminding motorists to put their phones away and focus on the road throughout April. The month-long initiative aims to crack down on distracted driving, with additional officers on patrol specifically watching for texting, social media use, video viewing, and other dangerous distractions behind the wheel.
“Too many drivers think they can glance at a text, check a notification or scroll for a second and still drive safely. They cannot. Distracted driving takes eyes off the road, hands off the wheel and attention away from what matters most,” said Stephane B. Seck-Birhame, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering.
IDOT statistics reveal the serious consequences of distracted driving in Illinois: between 2020 and 2024, 253 people died and 28,271 were injured in crashes involving distractions. In 2024 alone, 51 fatalities—4.3% of all traffic deaths—were linked to distracted driving.
Illinois law prohibits drivers from manually using an electronic communication device while operating a vehicle, which includes texting, streaming video, participating in video conferences, or accessing social media. Even hands-free use can divert a driver’s attention from the road.
“We’ve all seen it while driving. The person in the car next to you or in front of you who keeps looking down at their phone, starts to drift into the next lane, only to jerk back at the last minute,” said ISP Division of Patrol Col. Chris Owen. “Every day, ISP handles avoidable crashes caused by someone driving while distracted, many times because they were texting. No text is more important than your life. Don’t drive distracted.”
This safety effort is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s campaign to prevent distracted driving. The increased enforcement is supported by federal funds administered through IDOT and coincides with the department’s multimedia campaign, “It’s Not a Game.”
Motorists are urged to drive responsibly, keep their focus on the road, and help make Illinois highways safer for everyone.