Illinois Valley Times

Illinois state Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) shared tips in a recent Facebook post to avoid distracted driving during Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

"April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and a reminder to regroup and take responsibility for the choices we make when we’re on the road," he said in the post. "Keep these safety tips in mind: Need to send a text? Pull over and park your car in a safe location. Only then is it safe to send or read a text. Designate your passenger as your 'designated texter.' Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages. Do not scroll through apps, including social media, while driving. Struggling to not text and drive? Put the cell phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of the vehicle until you arrive at your destination."

The Illinois State Police released a Distracted Driving Safety Guide containing a variety of tips for drivers to avoid distracted driving. The guide notes that use of cell phones is only allowed when a Bluetooth headset or earpiece is also in use, or when someone uses voice commands.

"Driver inattention is a factor in more than 1.6 million crashes in North America annually, resulting in serious injuries, deaths, and an economic impact that some experts say reaches nearly $40 billion per year," the guide said.

In 2021, 3,522 individuals died in distracted driving incidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Department of Transportation stated in a notice that individuals who text or read messages, talk on mobile devices, adjust a GPS or radio, eat, deal with children or pets, daydream, or apply makeup or otherwise look at themselves in a mirror are 23 times more likely to cause an accident.

"Illinois law prohibits the use of hand-held mobile devices, texting or using other electronic communications while operating a motor vehicle," the notice said. "Driving while holding a mobile device and utilizing the speaker is considered distracted driving and a violation of Illinois law."

Ryan Spain has represented the people of Illinois' 73rd District since 2017, his website biography said. Before serving in the state legislature, Spain was elected to the City Council of Peoria as the youngest at-large member in the city's history, holding that seat until fall of 2016. He is currently employed by OSF Healthcare System as the organization's vice president of Economic Development.