- April 29, 2024
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The city of Palm Coast and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office are collaborating to bring awareness to National Distracted Driving Awareness Month this April.
The campaign is part of a greater initiative between the two entities to help promote general roadway safety throughout the city, a Palm Coast press release said. According to the National Safety Council, on average, nine people are killed each day due to accidents caused by distracted driving - over 3000 per year.
In 2023, distracted driving caused two Flagler County fatalities and was responsible for 586 crashes, over double the 281 crashes recorded in 2018, the press release said. Texting tops the list of distractions and is against the law in Florida, but distracted driving is as any potential distraction that can compromise an individual’s ability to operate a vehicle.
That includes eating, drinking, operating a radio, talking or any other hinderance that takes a driver’s eyes or mind off the road.
“Any distraction that can cause a lapse of awareness or attention to your driving can compromise your ability to operate your vehicle safely is not worth risking your safety or the safety of others on the road,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. “That’s why our deputies are always on the lookout for distracted drivers and why I urge everyone to always pay attention behind the wheel.”
The distracted driving awareness efforts are part of a greater initiative promoting roadway safety and awareness as Flagler County prepares for significant construction along State Road 100 for a Florida Department of Transportation project, the press release said. The construction projects began on April 1 and will run through 2025.
Additionally, Palm Coast has collaborated with Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Commander Brian Finn to produce videos that outline distracted driving as well as laws and traffic protocol that pertain to roadway construction, lane closures and work/emergency vehicles along the road – all which motorists in the city can expect to encounter while the year-long project is underway, the press release said.
The video series will be released on all Palm Coast social media channels throughout the month of April.
