Memphis Standard

Steve Cohen was mentioned in DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH..... on pages E462-E463 covering the 1st Session of the 117th Congress published on April 28, 2021 in the Congressional Record.

The publication is reproduced in full below:

DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH

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HON. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI

of illinois

in the house of representatives

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join thousands of organizations and individuals around the country in observation of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Ten years ago, a mother who lost her daughter to a distracted driving crash successfully petitioned this body to have April officially designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Unfortunately, we are still dealing with the impact of distracted driving on our roadways.

Research shows that using electronic devices increases cognitive distraction. This can be deadly on the road, where a split-second distraction can cause a crash. Approximately 3,142 people died in distraction affected driving crashes in 2019--that's eight people every day dying from a completely preventable cause--and this number is widely believed to be undercounted.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the roads have become much more dangerous. Motor vehicle deaths in 2020 are estimated to be the highest in 13 years, despite dramatic drops in miles driven Americans stayed home. While it's too early to have a full understanding of what caused this increase in the number of people dying in crashes, distraction certainly played a part.

Recognizing these dangerous trends, I'm proud to be the leader of the SAFE TO DRIVE Act with my colleagues Mike Gallagher and Steve Cohen. SAFE TO DRIVE incentivizes states to pass laws eliminating distraction on our roadways. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting passage of this legislation.

I encourage all motorists to commit to driving attentively and safely, without the distraction of cell phones or other devices. I also hope my colleagues will join me this month in raising awareness about this important issue. Do it for all of our constituents. Their lives are more valuable than any call, email, or text.

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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 73

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