I generally do not pay mind to National “This” Day or “That” Month, but April is an exception to the rule. It’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month and, as a personal injury attorney, I am all too aware of the consequences of distracted driving. In both my job and my private life, I have come to believe that cellphones and other such gadgets are a blessing and a curse. The worst of the curse, of course, is the danger that accompanies cellphone use while driving, whether that use is talking, texting, checking email, or otherwise being preoccupied by the device. When your focus is on your phone instead of your number one priority—safe operation of a motor vehicle—you are putting yourself and surrounding drivers at risk. Sadly, approximately 10% of all motor vehicle fatalities involve phone usage.

I must confess that at one time I was guilty of regularly using my handheld device to make calls while driving. However, as I saw more and more clients walk through my door after being injured by a distracted driver, I changed my ways and have become much more vigilant behind the wheel. As much as I drive throughout South Carolina, whether to visit my offices in Myrtle Beach and Winnsboro, or to Florence where I have friends, family, and a large client base, I absolutely must have my eyes focused on the road and off the phone.

It is important to note, though, that distracted driving encompasses much more than driving while using a phone. Distracted driving means driving while your eyes are off the road, your hands are off the wheel, or your mind isn’t focused on driving. Operating a navigation system, eating while driving, and gazing at the scenery instead of the road are just a few examples of distracted driving that can lead to motor vehicle accidents.

When you’re driving, it only takes a few seconds to make a life-altering mistake. Make an oath today to yourself, your passengers, and your fellow travelers that, when you’re behind the wheel, you’ll keep your focus on the road.