Hiram Police Join 'One Text Could Wreck It All' Campaign

In an effort to make our roads safer, City of Hiram Police Department announced that they have joined the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All” campaign to stop distracted driving.  

City of Hiram Police Department has pledged their support to help spread the message that distracted drivers are not only a danger to themselves, but everyone else on the road. Chief Todd Vande Zande realizes that while most people are aware of the dangers of cell phone use while driving; this realization doesn’t translate into action. Despite the harm, people continue to allow themselves to be distracted by cell phone use.

Through directed traffic enforcement efforts, this initiative is intended to bring awareness to the dangers of cell phone use and other distractions while driving. We hope that once people realize that the police are out on the roads, enforcing the laws concerning texting and driving, they will make a conscious effort to modify behavior that puts them and others at risk.

In 2010, 3,092 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver and an estimated additional 416,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver. That same year, eleven percent of fatal crashes were reported as distraction-affected crashes.

While anything that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off the task of driving is a hazard, there is heightened concern about the risks of texting while driving because it combines all three types of distraction – visual, manual and cognitive. The national distracted driving effort focuses on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness and education – the same activities that have curbed drunk driving and increased seat belt use.

“Every driver in the City of Hiram, Paulding County has a role in this effort,” said Chief Todd Vande Zande. "This initiative is designed to reach out to parents with teen drivers because we know that statistically, the under-20 age group had the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes. The City of Hiram Police Department’s goal with this campaign is simple – save lives by getting drivers to remember that “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All.” 

“Distracted driving is an epidemic on America’s roadways, and we’re doing our part to help put an end to it,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.  “Texting and cell phone use while driving is extremely dangerous, and we know simply getting drivers to turn their phones off when they get behind the wheel will make our roads significantly safer. Efforts like this one will help us put an end to distracted driving, and we encourage your support of this program to help save lives in your community.”

For more information about distracted driving, visit www.distraction.gov