SFS encourages motorists to focus on driving Published April 5, 2012 By Master Sgt. Donald Clifton 2nd Security Forces Squadron Barksdale Air Force Base, La. -- Communication is at our fingertips. From emails to entertainment, cell phones and mobile devices can do it all. But can you handle it all? When you're behind the wheel, the answer is no! Multi-tasking is great at school or in the office, but in a vehicle you should be single minded with all of your attention on the road. In 2010, there were more than 5.4 million police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes. That's an average of more than 14,000 occurrences each day of the year. Wouldn't it be in your best interest to give driving your undivided attention? Talking on the phone, looking at navigation devices, eating, playing with mp3 players or other gadgets, or worse--sending text messages--are all easily avoidable distractions that often lead to crashes. Many of these can be prevented if drivers pay attention. In 2009, 5,474 people were killed and approximately 448,000 were injured in crashes involving distracted driving. Of those, a total of 995 people died and 24,000 were injured in crashes that reported a cell phone as a distraction. In fact, cell phones were reported as a distraction for 20 percent of the drivers in fatal crashes. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Join the 2nd Security Forces Squadron to make drivers aware of the dangers, and starting with yourself and your household, commit to stop driving distracted. During this time, 2 SFS is taking part in a high visibility law enforcement effort encouraging Team Barksdale drivers to avoid unnecessary distractions with this simple campaign message, "One text or call could wreck it all." According to Barksdale Supplement 31-204, Air Force Motor Vehicle Traffic Supervision, the use of cellular phones while operating a motor vehicle on Barksdale is strictly prohibited unless a hands-free device is used. Officers will issue tickets to those caught violating these laws, emphasizing to all drivers that their focus needs to be on the road. "At any time of the day, over 800,000 people are driving while talking on a hand-held cell phone," said Capt. Clifford Piernick, 2 SFS operations officer. "No conversation is important enough to risk so many lives." The efforts by local law enforcement will help encourage drivers to keep distractions to a minimum for their safety as well as others sharing the road. "Fatalities from distracted driving are so devastating because they are preventable, yet thousands of people die each year because of insignificant distractions like text messages," said Master Sgt. Paul Hellman, 2 SFS safety representative. "Don't risk your life. Don't risk hurting someone else. Before you grab your phone or engage in any other distraction while driving, ask yourself; Is this really worth dying for?" If you don't stop yourself from driving distracted, law enforcement will help you get the message--with a ticket. Visit www.distraction.gov to find out more information on distracted driving.