Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is reminding motorists to “Park the Phone” to reduce distracted driving crashes in the region during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

“Park the Phone” is a campaign created by PennDOT to remind motorists and pedestrians to avoid distractions while on the roadway.

As part of the campaign, participants make a promise to put their phones down while behind the wheel by signing the “Park the Phone” pledge cards. The campaign is introduced to high school and college students year-round. Today, PennDOT employees are showing their support by taking the pledge at the PennDOT District Office.

Cell phone use is not the only distraction while driving. Other common distractions include eating and drinking, reaching for objects inside the vehicle, changing settings in the vehicle, brushing hair or applying makeup, and over-engaging with passengers, to name a few.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens aged 15-18 in the United States. Modeling good behavior is particularly important when it comes to driving.

According to preliminary PennDOT data, there are over 11,268 distracted driving crashes in 2023. Of those, there were also 65 fatalities.

Additionally, last year there have been 1,794 distracted driving crashes in the Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence County region, with 6 fatalities.