FDOT: “Target Zero” campaign aims to address the issue of distracted driving

ORLANDO, Fla. — As June begins so does “Distracted Driving Awareness Month.”

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The Florida Department of Transportation said they are aiming to address the deadly effects of distracted driving through a campaign known as “Target Zero. “ The statewide initiative is to reduce the number of transportation-related serious injuries and deaths on Florida’s roads to ZERO.

The FDOT wants to make sure drivers stay off their phones while driving. Distracted driving diverts your attention and includes texting, drinking, and fiddling with the radio,

Law enforcement realizes most people need their smartphones with them while they are driving so all they are asking, at the least, is to put your phone on Do not disturb

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According to the FDOT, more than 260,000 lives were lost in Florida alone last year due to not paying attention while behind the wheel. The focus will specifically focus on young male drivers aged 22 to 27, as Central Florida has seen a high number of fatal and serious crashes involving this demographic.

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The majority of these incidents involve residents of Florida, with young male drivers accounting for over 50 percent of the fatalities and serious injuries. According to the FDOT distracted driving is a deadly issue that caused more than 53000 crashes across the state last year. "

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All those crashes were completely preventable if someone would just put it down,” said FDOT, LT. Tara Crescenzi “We want to educate motorists that driving distracted has deadly consequences,” Crescenzi added

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