Of the more than 65,000 people killed in car crashes over the past two years, one in 10 were in crashes where at least one of the drivers was distracted according to police report data analyzed by Erie Insurance.  Distracted driving takes many forms, and all can have deadly consequences.  Erie Insurance’s analysis of the police report data in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a nationwide census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes, identified the top ten distracted driving behaviors involved in fatal car crashes in order of highest percentage of occurrence:

• Daydreaming
• Cell phone use (talking, listening, dialing and texting)
• “Rubbernecking”
• Talking with or looking at other occupants in the car
• Using or reaching for a device, such as a navigational device
• Eating or drinking
• Adjusting audio or climate controls
• Using other car controls such as adjusting rear view mirrors
• A moving object in the car, such as a pet
• Smoking-related activities

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and an important opportunity to make local drivers aware of just how deadly distracted driving is and how they can avoid putting themselves and others at risk.

Northeast Ohio gas prices climbed this week as local motorists paid an average 19 cents more at the pump. Today’s average is $3.816.

According to the Fuel Gauge, gas prices are continuing to rise across the country. The national average is $3.748, up 15 cents over last week and 45 cents this month. The state with the lowest average price is Wyoming at $3.189.

Northeast Ohio drivers have to dig a little deeper into their wallets since area gas prices increased over eight cents to $3.391 this week.