MIAMI VALLEY — April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and law enforcement say that too many people are dying on Ohio’s roads.
Bill Ferguson, a veteran tow truck driver with almost 25 years of service, was almost one of those people.
In 2008, Ferguson was on the job in Georgia when a semi failed to move over to the next lane while he was working on the side of the interstate. The semi’s mirror hit Ferguson, knocking him down.
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Ferguson said that while he was sore, he was able to get up and continue with his job.
Since that day, Ferguson said he is always watching the road for those who may not be watching for him.
He said he is happy the state has a “Move Over” law, which requires all drivers to move over one lane when passing by any vehicle with flashing or rotating lights that is parked on the road, but said distracted driving is still a problem.
“You see people putting on make-up, reading magazines. I’ve seen people taking their shirts off going down the road. People just don’t pay attention,” Ferguson said.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, 212 people were killed and 34,154 others were injured in distracted driving crashes in the past five years.
The OSHP have been highlighting to importance of drivers keeping their eyes on the road with the #JustDrive campaign on Facebook by sharing different accidents caused by distracted driving.
Cox Media Group
