Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW)— A glance at a text, a scroll through social media, or a quick reply behind the wheel — it only takes a second for distraction to turn deadly.

That’s the message from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, and local law enforcement agencies as they kick off Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The statewide effort urges drivers to “pay attention or pay the price,” reminding the public that safe driving starts with undivided attention.

According to IDOT, 260 people were killed and 29,458 injured in crashes involving distracted driving between 2019 and 2023. Last year alone, 58 people died in crashes involving at least one distracted driver — nearly 5% of all traffic fatalities statewide.

Officials emphasize that every one of these crashes could have been prevented. Drivers are encouraged to keep their hands on the wheel, eyes on the road and focus on the task of driving. Tips include:

Pulling over safely before sending or reading texts

Avoiding social media use behind the wheel

Enabling the “Do Not Disturb” feature on mobile devices

The “Don’t Drive Distracted. Eyes Forward.” campaign is part of a national initiative by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Illinois’ increased enforcement is supported by federal funds administered by IDOT.